Hugo Daniel Chávez and the NGO Sustenta Honduras have created an innovative solution to reduce waste by recycling used cooking oil into soap products, targeting health and environmental hazards while empowering the community.
Transforming Waste: How Honduras is Turning Used Cooking Oil into Soap
Transforming Waste: How Honduras is Turning Used Cooking Oil into Soap
In Honduras, a green initiative is converting discarded cooking oil into valuable soap and dog food, promoting sustainability.
In a region where deep-fried foods are a staple, used cooking oil often ends up wasted or improperly disposed of, posing serious health risks and environmental damage. Young entrepreneurs from Sustenta Honduras are addressing these challenges by repurposing the oil into valuable products like soap and dog food. Hugo Daniel Chávez, project manager of the NGO, emphasizes the importance of transforming waste into opportunities, explaining that their initiative not only encourages the responsible disposal of cooking oil but also fosters a circular economy.
With millions of tonnes of cooking oil consumed across Latin America annually, the black market for used oil can lead to serious health issues from reheating and reusing oil excessively. On the other hand, improper disposal can contaminate waterways and harm local ecosystems. To incentivize businesses to discard their oil properly, Sustenta offers financial compensation and regular pickups, gaining support from several establishments, including Walmart, which helps secure a reliable supply chain.
Executive director Ricardo Pineda points out that while previous efforts focused on converting used oil into biodiesel, which lacked a market in Honduras, their approach to creating soap and dog food aligns with local consumer needs. The NGO’s efforts have garnered international recognition, including a significant award for their innovative approach and social impact.
Their operations, based in Comayagua, utilize a process known as saponification, where heated fat and oil are combined with alkali, transforming the waste into usable soap. With each bar priced at a modest 15 lempiras, Sustenta not only strives for environmental efficiency but also empowers young people and women, heavily impacted by climate change. Pineda is clear that their goal is to foster a sustainable ecosystem where the community can see tangible benefits from their waste.
Moreover, the passionate young team behind Sustenta, all averaging around 23 years of age, prioritizes offering practical solutions over confrontational approaches often seen in more traditional environmental movements. Their proactive mindset and innovative projects aim to create lasting change, ensuring both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity for the community. Through clever partnerships and technology, they hope to further capitalize on the potential of recycling used cooking oil while nurturing the local economy and promoting environmental responsibility.
With millions of tonnes of cooking oil consumed across Latin America annually, the black market for used oil can lead to serious health issues from reheating and reusing oil excessively. On the other hand, improper disposal can contaminate waterways and harm local ecosystems. To incentivize businesses to discard their oil properly, Sustenta offers financial compensation and regular pickups, gaining support from several establishments, including Walmart, which helps secure a reliable supply chain.
Executive director Ricardo Pineda points out that while previous efforts focused on converting used oil into biodiesel, which lacked a market in Honduras, their approach to creating soap and dog food aligns with local consumer needs. The NGO’s efforts have garnered international recognition, including a significant award for their innovative approach and social impact.
Their operations, based in Comayagua, utilize a process known as saponification, where heated fat and oil are combined with alkali, transforming the waste into usable soap. With each bar priced at a modest 15 lempiras, Sustenta not only strives for environmental efficiency but also empowers young people and women, heavily impacted by climate change. Pineda is clear that their goal is to foster a sustainable ecosystem where the community can see tangible benefits from their waste.
Moreover, the passionate young team behind Sustenta, all averaging around 23 years of age, prioritizes offering practical solutions over confrontational approaches often seen in more traditional environmental movements. Their proactive mindset and innovative projects aim to create lasting change, ensuring both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity for the community. Through clever partnerships and technology, they hope to further capitalize on the potential of recycling used cooking oil while nurturing the local economy and promoting environmental responsibility.
