Used cooking oil management in Hong Kong

Abstract

The study aim of this dissertation is to make recommendations on relevant policies and management on Hong Kong used cooking oil recycling issue through literature reviews and questionnaires.

In this dissertation, literature review was carried out to study the current situation of recycling used cooking oil, limitations and difficulties in the current situation as well as overseas experience in UCO recycling management. An interview with an expert in the biodiesel industry was carried out on 22 March 2016 to understand the insight of the industry and their attitude towards UCO recycling in Hong Kong. Also, 101 responses from online questionnaires were collected from the public to obtain views towards the UCO recycling issues in Hong Kong.

Regarding the UCO recycling mechanisms in Hong Kong, it was found that 57% of the respondents identified that the incident of gutter oil scandal happened in Taiwan in 2014 has not affected their awareness of the origin of cooking oil. Most UCO providers determine their buyers mostly based on the offered price, little cares about the future usage nor destination of the UCO. Regarding the biodiesel usage in Hong Kong, 33% of the respondents have never heard about biodiesel before and 56% of them have only little knowledge about it.

In view on the current UCO recycling situation in Hong Kong and the following information collected during the study of this dissertation: overseas management practices, especially in UK, Germany, Shanghai and Taiwan, views and comments from the expert in the biodiesel industry, as well as awareness level from the public, it is recommended that UCO recycling and food safety should rely of legislation, which includes a tracing system by proper documentations and licensing. Moreover, it is because one of the major uses of UCO is for biodiesel manufacturing, it is recommended that Hong Kong should implement mandatory biodiesel blend to increase the demand for UCO. Government could also control the market price of UCO to ensure fair trading between proper licensed organization, to avoid loss of profit of the stakeholders due the implementation of UCO legislation, and avoid encouraging businesses of the black market.