Food Waste and Catering Waste; Focus on Valorisation of Used Cooking Oil and Recovered Triglycerides - The Economic Utilisation of Food Co-Products - page 96

policy changes to accelerate the valorisation of FSCW beyond current practice
(animal feed or energy recovery, etc.). This area is not free of challenges, since
''grey areas'' such as the distinction between waste and by-products, strong
political drives for the diversion of FW into AD and policies such as ''end-
of-waste'' regulation and REACH will have an impact on future practise.
There is therefore increasing pressure to find sustainable routes for the
valorisation of UCOs and reclaimed fats. An overview of the different options
is shown below:

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Production of biodiesel, which is the most widely employed method for the
valorisation of fats and UCOs. As previously mentioned, in the UK a
Quality Protocol criteria is in place for the production of biofuel, the only
one currently existing for recovered oil and fats derivatives. (Reference:
Biodiesel, Quality Protocol - End of Waste Criteria for the production and
use of biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil and rendered animal fat
(quality biodiesel), Environment Agency for England and Wales and the
Northern Ireland Environment Agency, 1 June 2009. Biodiesel can be
employed in fuel for car consumption or for heat electricity generation, 44
where blends of UCO-biofuel with mineral diesel can also be used. The
quality of this product in relation to the one derived from virgin feedstocks
has been widely discussed in literature and the general consensus is that the
UCO-derived biodiesel has similar properties to conventional biodiesel,
with the exception of its resistance to oxidation/ and cold-flow
performance, which is generally addressed by the use of additives.
Energy recovery, use as fuel for industrial boilers. Suitable for all types of
UCOs including blends of biofuel coproducts, namely oleins and free fatty
acid phases.
Use of feedstock for anaerobic digestion, limited to some types of processes,
since the detrimental effects of oils and fats in ''conventional'' AD
processes are also well known. At a national (UK) policy level
considerable emphasis is already being placed on AD as the favoured
waste-management option for bio-wastes going forward.
Use as pet food, only suitable for rendered fats derived from category 3
animal by-products. The product must meet customer specifications.
Recyclability into technical applications, either by use as a net product or
by chemical modification. This is a priori the most attractive approach
from a research and added-value approach. However, classification of
such materials as waste, may be dicult in their conversion into chemicals,
particularly in the EU, where regulations such as REACH, demand much
bureaucratic effort. In order to displace AD from its apparent ''preferred
status'' for the recycling of oil sound economic and environmental
advantages will need to be proven.

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6.5.1 Use as Fuel; Production of Biodiesel
The use of virgin oils for biofuel production has generated significant
controversy, deemed the ''food versus fuel issue''. In this regard, recovered oils