Collecting and converting used cooking oil into biodiesel has enabled leading environmental consultants Delta-Simons to once again prove it can ‘walk the talk’.

The Lincoln-based consultancy runs its own waste cooking oil collection scheme whereby it collects used oil from local businesses.  This is converted – via a chemical process called transesterification – into biodiesel, which can then be used to fuel the company’s vehicles, including its Land Rover and drilling rigs.

Steve Saville, Senior Environmental Scientist, Delta-Simons explained, “Making our own biodiesel and using it in our vehicles in place of fossil fuel diesel brings significant environmental benefits.  It helps us to reduce our emissions, our carbon footprint, and our consumption of finite fossil fuels.

“It is totally in keeping with our corporate Environmental Policy.  At the same time our waste cooking oil collection scheme means that local businesses have a means by which they can get rid of their used cooking oil completely free of charge, and we can make something useful out of somebody else’s waste.”

Biodiesel is an alternative to fossil oil derived diesel and can be used for exactly the same purposes.  Being produced from vegetable oils means that biodiesel produces less pollution when burnt and, critically, the carbon dioxide emitted when it is burnt is already contained within the carbon cycle and therefore does not add to global warming.  Using waste oil rather than virgin cooking oil means that the Delta-Simons scheme does not displace farmland used for food production.

“Taking into account the cost of the specialist equipment, chemicals, and most importantly the time required to make the biodiesel, each litre probably costs us more than forecourt diesel.  However, with the knowledge, skills and corporate will, making our own fuel out of waste is clearly the right thing to do, as it allows us to do our bit for the local business community and the environment too,” adds Steve.

Delta-Simons is always seeking new members to join its waste cooking oil collection scheme – for more information contact Steve Saville 01522 882565 email steve.saville@deltasimons.com