Channel NewsAsia 30 Nov 16;
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency on Wednesday (Nov 30) said it will begin licensing used cooking oil collectors from Dec 1 this year.
It is estimated that there are about 50 used cooking oil collectors here, and the licensing scheme will ensure that these collectors meet waste collection standards, including standards for the proper collection, storage and transportation of used cooking oil, NEA said in its press release.
The used cooking oil collected is processed locally or exported to be converted into non-edible commodities such as biodiesel.
Those who wish to collect used cooking oil will be required to obtain a General Waste Collector (GWC) licence from NEA. All food establishments, such as food retail businesses and food manufacturers, will be required to engage licensed collectors for UCO collection by Jun 1 next year, it added.
Applications for the licence will start from Dec 1, and collectors have until Jun 1 to obtain their licence, the agency said.
Collecting used cooking oil without a licence or engaging an unlicensed collector will each carry a maximum fine of $10,000, as stipulated in the Environmental Public Health (General Waste Collection) Regulations, it added.
- CNA/kk
