The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it plans to collect used cooking oil from across the city to produce bio-diesel fuel as part of efforts to protect the environment and cut sewage treatment costs.

Bio diesel, a liquid fuel composed from renewable substances like soybean oil, is emerging as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. It burns cleaner than fuels derived from fossil fuels, while emitting no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Under the envisioned plan, the city government has designated two workers in the city‘s 25 districts who will be in charge of collecting used oil from residences and restaurants, while planning to distribute small containers for the convenience of citizens.

Vegetable oil will be collected more than once a week, while animal fat will be picked up more than twice per week to prevent it from decaying, according to the city.

The collected oil will be sold off to biofuel producers after being refined, the city said, adding the end product will be delivered to oil companies to be consumed as a mixture with general diesel.

Recycling 10,000 tons of used oil is expected to save 450 million won ($402,864) of yearly sewage treatment costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 tons per year, the municipal government said.

“We plan to invest profits from the project into our business of collecting used oil for renewable energy development or creating jobs for citizens,” a city official said.

An average of 100,000 tons of used oil is produced per year, with 71 percent of it being simply thrown away or put down kitchen sinks, according to the city. (Yonhap News)