Used cooking oil from kitchens is being recast as a potential climate solution as the Manila archdiocese pushes a biodiesel recycling drive across the capital.
In a circular, Cardinal Jose Advincula invited parishes, institutions and households to join “a meaningful ecological initiative” converting waste oil into biodiesel.
He said that in the face of growing global challenges related to energy supply and environmental sustainability, the faithful are “to respond with concrete and collective action.”
He cited projections showing global oil demand surpassing 105 million barrels per day by 2025, warning that continued fossil fuel use is driving climate change and environmental degradation.
“Improper disposal of used cooking oil also poses a serious threat to our environment, clogging waterways and contributing to pollution,” the cardinal said.
Advincula said properly collected waste oil “can be transformed into biodiesel, a renewable and cleaner fuel derived from recycled oils,” offering both environmental and practical benefits.
He added that biodiesel from recycled oil can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80% compared with conventional diesel while supporting local energy alternatives.
“In this spirit, all parishes and institutions are encouraged to participate in the program, which seeks to organize the systematic collection of used cooking oil from households, food establishments, and parishes and various church institutions,” Advincula said.
The collected oil will undergo processing under the archdiocese’s Ministry of Integral Ecology, including collection, pre-treatment, transesterification and purification, before conversion into usable biodiesel.
Program mechanics include:
- Each parish is requested to designate a collection point for used cooking oil.
Parishioners are encouraged to store used cooking oil in clean, sealed containers, free from food waste and water. - Regular pick-up and processing of collected oil will be arranged.
- Processed oil ready to use will be made available to those who submitted their used cooking oil. A donation per liter will be asked for the ministry’s cost of processing & hauling.
- Basic information campaigns may be conducted to raise awareness on the environmental benefits of this initiative.
A training seminar was held April 25, with engineer Ed Brisenio, the technology developer, serving as resource person.
