Converting used cooking oil into bio-fuel (RUCO)

In a bid to collect and convert the used cooking oil to bio-diesel, the The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil).

What is RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) scheme ?

RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) scheme is launched by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to collect and convert the used cooking oil to bio-diesel.

FSSAI has already notified standards for used cooking oil and is now planning to introduce regulations for companies that use large quantities of cooking oil to hand it over to registered collecting agencies to convert it into biofuel.

Few companies like McDonald has already started converting used cooking oil to biodiesel, now the initiative is aimed at enabling 64 companies from 101 locations to collect used cooking oil.

A co-ordinated action in the area can yield 220 crore litres of used cooking oil for the production of biodiesel by 2022.

Under the guidelines the companies using more than 100 liters of oil for frying have to maintain a stock register and will be responsible to ensure that Used Cooking Oil is handed over to only registered collecting agencies.

To ensure effective compliance of used cooking oil regulations, FSSAI is also working in partnership with Biodiesel Association of India and the food industry.

To strengthen the move FSSAI is also planning to publish guidance documents, tips for consumers and posters in this regard. It is also conducting several awareness campaigns through its e-channels.