Transforming waste vegetable oils to biodiesel, establishing of a waste oil management system in Albania

Abstract

Nowadays, food wastes contribute to a significant part of the total world wastes’ data, having a direct impact on the environment and economic losses. Use of Vegetable Oils for frying and other food-chain services studied for their potential as a feedstock source for biodiesel production. Development of the processing technologies has exploited their use as a valuable economic resource despite their status as food by-products. Recently in Albania, a private enterprise has oriented the investments in the frying waste vegetable oils by establishing a collecting network and their use for biodiesel production. In the first phase, is established the management system and collection network of Waste Vegetable Oil in restaurants, catering, and Fast-food chain in the Tirana-Durresi region. The results during the first year have shown that the collected amount reached 400 tons. Waste Vegetable oil collected data have reached approx 100 t per month. On a five-year strategic plan, the company aims to reach a collection of 15–20% of total waste vegetable oils, generated in-country, or potentially 6000–8000 tons per year. The contracts are organized bilaterally, between the end-point user and the company. Legislative enforcement to ban their disposal to the sewage system, or surface waters, are in action. Plant pilot experiments have successfully produced biodiesel using waste vegetable oils.