Charity helps turn 3,500 bathtubs-worth of cooking oil into biofuel

Monday 11 April 2022

A local charity that supports islanders with learning disabilities has recycled more than half-a-million litres of waste cooking oil in less than four years – and is now aiming to double that amount.

Les Amis has recycled the equivalent of 3,500 filled bathtubs or the combined weight of 1,000 fully grown Jersey cows since launching the initiative, which sees the oil filtered and converted into biofuel in the UK, in 2018.

It started off collecting used cooking oil from 30 hotels, pubs and restaurants with just one full-time employed resident, but now a team of five collect from 160 businesses in the hospitality sector.

549,602 litres have been recycled in total.

Pictured: The Les Amis Recycling Team has grown from having one full-time employed Les Amis resident to five.

“For Les Amis, it provides,” Jason Loveless, Head of Support Services, said he was “thrilled that so many businesses and islanders have come on board”, noting that it “provides valuable and meaningful employment for residents who are on the recycling team.” 

 “A couple of years ago, we were able to buy a second van with help from the Jersey Association of Charities, allowing more of our members to play a part in making the world a better place through improving our natural environment,” he added.