To recall, the city started its collection of used cooking oil at the barangay level in 2017, however, it was temporarily stopped as this system became too unreliable as source for the city’s BioDiesel Fuel Plant (BDFP), prompting the city to resort to local restaurants and fast-food establishments for a steady supply of used oil.
Currently, the CENRO has resumed its collection of used cooking oil at the barangay level for the production of biofuel.
City Information Office (CIO) in its report indicated that about 10 percent of the collected oil is used as raw material in breaking down biodegradable wastes into compost.
The program aims to reduce the presence of cooking oil in the city’s waterways and canals, which can coagulate and worsen flooding in the city.
CENRO Information Education Campaign Unit Spokesperson Orly Limpangog said they are encouraging all Dabawenyos not to dump their used cooking oil but instead gather them so that authorities at the barangay level can collect these from each household.
The collected oil can then be turned over to the city’s oil refinery located at the CENRO composting facility in Barangay Maa this city.
He said the barangays which have their own waste collection vehicles can avail of biodiesel subsidies from CENRO if they deliver their collected wastes to the city’s sanitary landfills.
“We will compensate them with fue. If they need 20 liters to refuel, we will give them 20 liters of biodiesel,” he said.
Some barangays in the city including barangay Hizon, Mintal, and Sasa have already established their own used cooking oil collection system.
Limpangog urged all other barangays to participate in this project and set up their own scheme of oil collection.
The city’s biodiesel fuel plant has produced almost 200, 000 liters of biodiesel since the launching in August 2017 up to April 2022.
It has been providing fuel for the city’s compactor trucks and other vehicles used for waste collection and management.
The biodiesel fuel plant was donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Photo from the City Government of Davao