50% of hotels uncooperative with Food Security Department's plan to collect old oil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Approximately 50,000 liters of old oil, gathered monthly from shops and hotels faces hurdles as half of hotel owners fail to comply with the Food Security Department's initiative to manufacture biodiesel and soap from the discarded oil.

Hotels and bakeries, mandated by law to maintain records of non-recyclable oil and collection agency details, frequently disregard this obligation. This program exclusively operates in urban regions.

Stale oil exchange is regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with authorized companies purchasing old oil at rates ranging from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per liter. The majority of collections originate from Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts.

Biodiesel, derived from old oil through a methanol heating process is retailed at Rs 85 per liter offering a Rs 12 reduction compared to regular diesel. This environmentally friendly alternative experiences high demand due to its pollution mitigation benefits.

Food Safety Authority prohibits the reuse of edible oil surpassing 25% Total Polar Compounds (TPC) to mitigate health risks including cancer associated with oil reheating for cooking purposes.