17 Apr 2012

Used oil from prison kitchens to be turned into biodiesel

1:05 pm on 17 April 2012

Used cooking oil from prison kitchens is to be converted into renewable fuel, under a deal struck between the Corrections Department and Solid Energy.

About 5000 litres of used oil from 18 prisons will be transferred each month to Solid Energy's subsidiary, Biodiesel New Zealand, for conversion.

Biodiesel NZ general manager Andrew Simcock says every litre of used oil makes a litre of fuel and saves more than 2kg of carbon emissions.

The oil is to be processed and converted into biodiesel in Christchurch.