By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Carluccio's made the statement last week after finalising an agreement with leading bio-fuel producer Convert2Green to manage the conversion process.
Although no details were given as to when the partnership would commence, it is understood that Cheshire-based Convert2Green will collect waste oil from the eatery's 54 UK outlets and recycle it into high quality bio-fuel. That in turn will be used to fuel delivery trucks, which is where the emissions savings are made.
Steve Kaddish, Carluccio's development manager, said the move was just a part of the business' overall sustainability strategy, stating that the chain "takes our recycling, waste management and carbon savings very seriously."
Mr Kaddish explained: “Waste oil collection is a way for us to take positive steps and by making changes to the way we behave as a business; we are aiming to improve both the social and environmental impact of our operations.
“Our aim in the first twelve months is to save 92.7 tonnes of carbon through recycling our waste oil - a big step in our overall aim to recycle in the region of 78 per cent of all our waste.”
Andy Webb, director of Convert2Green added that restaurants in the UK are increasingly looking toward more sustainable practices. He said: “Restaurants produce thousands of litres of waste cooking oil per annum which might otherwise go to landfill or be exported, and may even cause environmental problems.
“By recycling with Convert2Green, the used cooking oil will be refined into bio-fuel here in the UK for use in road transport and for the generation of renewable and sustainable energy, thereby saving even more carbon emissions.”
While it must be said that converting waste cooking oil into bio-diesel is a great idea and much, much better than using virgin oils, be this palm oil, or whatever, to produce that fuel, we are still trying to keep the status quo as to the infernal combustion engine. We must get away from that thing though.
The other problem with bio-diesel is that the particle emission are at least the same if not worse. On the other hand, conversion also should not be needed if the vehicles would have their engines adjusted properly. Most diesel engines could, really, burn a multitude of oils.
Our love affair with the infernal combustion engine, whether it burns gasoline, diesel or even “natural” gas, is something that we must reconsider and we must do this rather pronto.
There is simply no way that we can produce all the crops for bio-fuels, as that would either mean fuel or food, in the end, and neither can we get enough waste cooking oil from which to make bio-diesel.
A serious rethink is required and the bicycle – in it various forms – and other human-powered vehicles – must be brought back into the equation.
Using waste cooking oil for bio-fuels is a great idea and a way of disposing safely of the oils it is NOT the answer.
© 2011
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