Straits Times 17 Jan 10;
Mr Goh Hen Turn does not need to hug trees to support the Green movement.
The foodstall operator gives away 8 litres of used cooking oil every two days so that it can be recycled into diesel fuel.
Mr Goh, 63, who owns A Kun Western and Japanese foodstall at Chong Pang Food and Market Centre, has joined Project Rusco (Recycling of USed Cooking Oil) @ North West.
He said: 'I used to give the oil back to the supplier for a $4 rebate but donating to the project is more meaningful.'
Project Rusco was launched yesterday under North West Community Development Council's 10-year plan called Green Living @ North West, which aims to cultivate a green culture within the district.
Project Rusco started when Yishun Junior College approached Alpha Biofuels, a biofuel company, to recycle used cooking oil from the North West District area.
Since September last year, it has collected 1,050 litres of used cooking oil.
Alpha Biofuels now collects used cooking oil from Chong Pang Food and Market Centre and schools in Chong Pang, Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon East and turns it into diesel that can be used in diesel engines. The process separates the fatty acids and unsaturated oil to get raw biodiesel which is then purified.
Said Mr Allen Lim, 36, the firm's founder and chief executive officer: 'I wanted a business that grows the technology to convert waste into energy as well as create awareness in the community about it.
'The biodiesel from used cooking oil creates about 90 per cent less emissions than regular diesel.'
Added the Mayor of North West District, Dr Teo Ho Pin: 'We will bring the project to other parts of the district. By encouraging other establishments to recycle used cooking oil, we will be able to produce more biodiesel.'
Shuli Sudderuddin
North West and South West Districts hold recycling events
Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia 16 Jan 10;
SINGAPORE: Two neighbourhoods in Singapore are turning their trash into treasure, while educating residents on the green cause and bringing the community closer together.
The new "Recycling of Used Cooking Oil Project" or RUSCO hopes to make every drop count. It's part of the North West District's 10-year eco-plan to go green.
The used cooking oil is collected from school canteens in the district and food stalls from Chong Pang Hawker Centre.
Residents and participants from the various community partners also learnt more about recycling oil.
Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District, said: "So over the next 10 years, we'll be reaching out to the community to promote environmental ownership. What we hope is to have a ground-up approach, where community stakeholders can take ownership and organise projects with different community partners."
North West Community Development Council (CDC) also set a new Singapore record, collecting 1,050 litres of used cooking oil.
Over at the South West District, Singaporeans and new citizens gathered at the Soka Culture Centre to collect old clothing and waste paper.
Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District, said: "We hope to achieve three objectives - reach out to more people; we are also using it as a platform to get the religious organisations to come together for a common cause; reach out to the less able, less fortunate in our community."
The district hopes to collect some 56 tonnes of recyclable material, thereby raising S$60,000 which will go towards helping some 360 needy students and physically disabled Singaporeans.
The recycled material will help reduce 25.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- CNA/ir
