Panaji: The Goa cabinet has approved a policy to promote the collection and conversion of used cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel, with plans to establish a dedicated processing plant and strengthen sustainable waste management in line with the National Policy on Biofuels and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) RUCO initiative, The Times of India reported.
The policy provides a framework for the collection, monitoring and conversion of UCO into biodiesel. It will be implemented by the Goa Energy Development Authority (GEDA) in line with the National Policy on Biofuels and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative, according to the report.
Under the policy, the state plans to set up a biodiesel plant to process used cooking oil collected from hotels, restaurants, food establishments and households. The biodiesel produced is proposed to be used by the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation.
According to the report, the policy is intended to discourage the reuse of degraded cooking oil for food preparation, which is associated with health risks. It also promotes the conversion of UCO into biodiesel, animal feed and other value-added products to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.
The policy also aims to curb water and soil pollution caused by the improper disposal of used cooking oil through an organised collection and disposal system. It includes provisions for the safe collection, storage and handling of UCO, penalties for non-compliance, and a market-based incentive mechanism to encourage recycling and support circular economy principles.
The Goa cabinet said improper disposal of UCO, including pouring it into drains, can lead to sewer blockages known as “fatbergs”, water pollution and damage to public infrastructure. It added that effective management of used cooking oil can help convert waste into a renewable energy feedstock while protecting public health and the environment.
According to the state government, Goa transported around 9 lakh kg of used cooking oil to Mumbai for processing between FY 2022 and 2026. The government said these volumes highlight the potential to establish a local biodiesel industry by systematically collecting and processing UCO within the state, reducing dependence on external processing facilities while supporting renewable energy generation and sustainable waste management.
