Municipality in Minas Gerais Launches Campaign to Transform Used Cooking Oil into Biodiesel

The 4th Largest Municipality in Minas Gerais Presents an Alternative for the Proper Disposal of Used Cooking Oil That Can Be Transformed into a Renewable Fuel – Biodiesel

The municipality of Juiz de Fora, in Minas Gerais, started last Friday (the 22nd) the campaign “Oil in the Future,” resulting from a partnership between multiple institutions and agencies. According to the news outlet Tribuna de Minas, the initiative will promote the transformation of used oils and fats (UOG) into biodiesel – a renewable fuel capable of replacing the use of fossil fuels, which generate polluting gases.

The project consists of a way to properly dispose of used cooking oil, thus reducing environmental impacts and enabling the planet to be preserved for future generations.

In this regard, the 4th largest municipality in Minas Gerais will have 18 collection points (presented at the end of this article) starting this Monday (the 25th), so that the population can properly dispose of used oil. Afterwards, the material will be directed for the production of biodiesel.

It is important to highlight that, according to the guidelines, the oil must be placed in a well-sealed PET bottle to avoid leaks.

The campaign is carried out by the Juiz de Fora City Hall (PJF), by the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), and by the Foundation for Support and Development of Education, Research, and Extension (Fadepe), in partnership with five local associations of recyclable material collectors, namely: the Municipal Association of Paper and Reusable Material Collectors of Juiz de Fora (Ascajuf); the Lixo Certo Association (Alcer); the Selective Collection Collectors Association JF (Accs); the Association of Paper and Solid Waste Collectors of Juiz de Fora (Apares); and the God is Greater Association (Adem).

How Will the Production of the Biofuel Occur?

The production of biodiesel will be carried out through a Fuelmatic GSX3 processing plant, manufactured by Green Fuels and provided free of charge by the Prosperity Fund of the British government. It is installed at the Integrated Center for Teaching, Research, Extension, Technology Transfer, and Culture (Cieptec-UFJF Norte), in the Industrial District of Juiz de Fora, in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais.

Its technology is sufficient for providing high-quality biodiesel, with insignificant amounts of water, soap, and impurities, and the fuel is certified for use in several countries.

The processor’s capacity allows for three thousand liters of used frying oil to be converted daily into three thousand liters of biodiesel. If operated at maximum capacity, taking into account possible production interruptions for maintenance, it can generate up to one million liters of biofuel annually.

During the first phase, vehicles from UFJF and the Municipal Paving and Urbanities Company (Empav) will be able to use the renewable fuel.

At the launch event held last Friday, the mayor of Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) – Margarida Salomão (PT) – classified the initiative as an “innovative partnership.” According to her, the expectation is to attract international investments due to the intelligence of this arrangement.

Margarida also highlighted that, on one hand, there is the involvement of science in the project, with the university. On the other hand, there are the associations of collectors, recognized as economically significant agents. Thus, the intermediation by the city hall and the partnership with England are capable of guiding the municipality, the state of Minas Gerais, and the country towards transformation.

The 18 Collection Points for Used Oil:

• Espaço Cidade: Av. Barão do Rio Branco 2,234, Centro.
• Demlurb Support Centers:

– Demlurb Administrative Center: Avenida Francisco Valadares 1,000, Bairro Vila Ideal;

– South Support Center: Rua Belmiro Braga 195, Alto dos Passos;

– North Support Center: Av. Juscelino Kubitscheck 6,170, Nova Era/Benfica;

– Central Support Center: Rua Halfeld 27, Centro;

– Support Center – Night Collection: Rua Paulo de Frontin 169, Centro.

• Ecopoints:

– Rua Diva Garcia, in front of nº 1,200, Bairro Bom Jardim;

– Rua Antônio Weitzel, s/nº, in front of number 710, Bairro Barbosa Lage;

– Rua José Apolônio dos Reis, s/nº, in front of the Municipal Stadium, Bairro Aeroporto;

– Rua Bartolomeu dos Santos, s/nº – São Damião.

• Federal University of Juiz de Fora:

– University Restaurant – Center: Rua Santo Antônio, s/nº, next to the Murilo Mendes Art Museum;

– Rectory – Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, Bairro Martelos;

– University Restaurant – Campus – Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/nº, near the Engineering College

•  Associations:

– Ascajuf: Rua Tenente Coronel Delfino Nonato de Faria 20, Santa Tereza;

– Alicer: Estrada da Remonta 430, Jóquei Clube;

            – ACCSJF: Rua Américo Luz, Manoel Honório;

            – Adem: Rua Júlio Dionísio Cardoso, Distrito Industrial;

– Apares: Rua Lafaiete Loures 91, Centro.