Edenvale’s used cooking oil recycling initiative has grown and gathered support from residents, businesses and schools alike.
The initiative was launched in August when Karaglen Superspar and Edenvale business Bio-Dynamic Fuel partnered up and decided to make a difference to the environment.
It is being run in partnership with a self-regulating body of the food industry, SA Fryer Oil Initiative (SAFOI).
By recycling the oil, Harry Karamichael, owner of the Spar and Shaun Dalrymple of Bio-Dynamic Fuel, hope to see less cooking oil dumped down drains or into the environment.
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The initiative sees used cooking oil converted in biodiesel which is used by the Karaglen Superspar.
Harry said that 100s of litres of used oil have been donated by schools and residents already.
He said in addition to the donations from the community, businesses have also decided to get involved.
“We recently spoke to the owner of Malagueta and they decided to donate 100 litres of used oil a week,” said Harry.
He thanked Karaglen Fat Cake City for also getting involved in the initiative.
Shaun said the schools are very excited to get on board with the initiative and do their part to help the environment.
He said in recent weeks Edenvale High School donated over 300 litres of oil to the initiative.
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Shaun believes more oil will be donated by other schools now that they have returned from school holidays.
Vouchers will be donated to the schools in return for the oil collected.
He said in addition to making a difference to the environment, community members who donate will also assist Child Welfare SA, Edenvale.
For every litre of oil dropped off by community members at the Spar, R2 will be donated to the welfare.
Shaun explained that 40 litres of used oil is put in a machine which converts it into 40 litres of ‘green fuel’.
“Chemicals are also put in with the oil and the only byproduct is 8 litres of glycerin which is used to manufacture soap,” said Shaun.
“Bio-Dynamic Fuel will donate the glycerin sales to Edenvale’s child welfare.”
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Harry encouraged businesses, complexes and schools to get involved.
He said collection bins will be supplied to large complexes interested in getting involved.
“In order for this project to be successful we need to collect large volumes of oil,” said Shaun.
Contact Harry on 083 381 1500 or Shaun on 083 788 2730 to get involved.