Marlborough-based Hills Waste Solutions is urging Wiltshire residents to help save the planet and support Wiltshire Air Ambulance at the same time, by collecting their used cooking oil from the festive period and recycling their nearest household recycling centre.
In a tri-party charity drive between Wiltshire Council, its waste contractor Hills Waste Solutions, and eco-firm Living Fuels, all used cooking oil collected at the county’s HRCs from 2 January to 31 March will be totalled up, and a donation of 25p per litre will be made to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
Cliff Carter, recycling manager Hills Waste Solutions, said: “Used cooking oil is like liquid gold – once processed it provides carbon neutral electricity for UK homes and business and, for the first three months of 2013, it will also generate much needed funding for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
“All the public have to do is take their used cooking oil to a local HRC and pour it into the specially marked collection tanks. We’ll do the rest.”
Once collected, the used cooking oil is taken to Living Fuels’ recovery facility, where it is settled and filtered, using no additional chemicals or heat, into a clean, green bioliquid, LF100, which is then used in the company’s renewable energy facilities to provide carbon neutral electricity for UK homes and businesses.
Just one litre of used cooking oil can provide enough power to make 240 cups of tea, and one full tank can power an average sized home for an entire year.
Water companies in the UK currently spend £15m a year clearing used cooking oil from their sewers and 75 percent of the 200,000 drain clearance call-outs every year can be attributed to used cooking oil clogging up drains and pipes.
Living Fuels’ operations director commented on the scheme: “This is a great way for residents to rid themselves of a difficult waste, while at the same time helping to save the environment and donating cash to a worthy cause. It really is a win-win, and win, situation.”
Caroline Corrigan, head of fundraising for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “This is really an unusual way to support us and a wonderful way to recycle. The benefits from recycling in this way will be of great benefit to the public along with knowing that funds raised will also be donated to keep us in the air saving lives.
“The Air Ambulance isn’t Government funded but rely on the public for donations to keep the helicopter flying. Currently the charity has to raise £2,000 per day and on average the crew are called out to three incidences per day.
“By supporting this initiative the public will be helping us immensely.”
Councillor Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for waste, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support this very good cause, namely Wiltshire Air Ambulance, by providing facilities for people to recycle their cooking oil at our popular household recycling centres.”
There are eleven household recycling centre across the county, one of which is at Marlborough Business Park, Salisbury Road.
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