en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Salvador City Government and Petrobras Biocombustível (PBIO), a subsidiary of Petrobras, officially launched the Waste Oil Program on Monday (8th), focusing on expanding the recycling of cooking oil for biodiesel production. Mayor Bruno Reis signed the decree establishing the program at Pier 1 in the commercial district and issued a public tender for waste oil collection cooperatives.

The initiative aims to reduce improper disposal of waste oil while supporting recycling cooperatives and creating income opportunities for urban residents. The program will integrate female acarajé vendors, as well as commercial entities such as restaurants, bars, and shopping malls, into the waste oil collection chain. Collected waste oil will be transported to PBIO's plant in Candeias for use as biodiesel feedstock.

Registered cooperatives will purchase waste oil from acarajé vendors at R$3 per kilogram (equivalent to approximately 1 liter) and from restaurants and other commercial establishments at R$2 per kilogram. Currently, about 100 acarajé vendors are participating in a pilot project under a similar model. Cooperatives resell the waste oil to PBIO, which currently pays approximately R$7 per kilogram.

Ivan Euler, head of the Department of Sustainability, Resilience, Welfare, and Animal Protection, stated that the program's launch was deliberately timed to coincide with World Oceans Day, aiming to address the frequent disposal of palm oil and cooking oil into sewers, which eventually flow into rivers and oceans. Snack vendors and commercial establishments that hire cooperatives certified under the program can receive sustainability certifications.

According to PBIO President Alex Gasparetto, the biodiesel produced will supply both the domestic Brazilian market and exports. The company has already collaborated with waste picker cooperatives in Bahia and Minas Gerais, but this marks its first direct partnership with a city government. Gasparetto expects that, under the new agreement, monthly waste oil collection could increase from approximately 4 tons last year to between 30 and 40 tons.

In addition to this program, Salvador has 20 "Recycling Capital" stations across the city, conducting public waste collection activities including waste oil. Citizens receive approximately 400 points for every 1 liter of waste oil delivered, with each point redeemable for R$1 off their electricity bills.

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