Bali, Indonesia: Combating Climate Change and Poverty—Recycling Used Cooking Oil by Transforming It into Biodiesel

Abstract

Recycling residual materials in a sustainable way is a challenge many developing and emerging countries are faced with. Against this backdrop, Caritas Switzerland (CaCH) has developed a used cooking oil (UCO) recycling project in Bali, Indonesia. The objective of the project is to recycle UCO from hotel kitchens and restaurants and transform it into biodiesel. The biodiesel will in turn be used as a substitute for fossil fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the project, a local social enterprise has been founded that manages the recycling of UCO. Besides climate change mitigation, the project also contributes to the protection of the local environment and the reduction of human health risks. Furthermore, it provides income and training to socially disadvantaged people. In this chapter, the project’s approach is explained and the results achieved as well as the challenges faced are examined. Before drawing final conclusions, the existing constraints are analyzed from the perspective of public service provision.