Police Canteen Oil Powers Vehicles

10th August 2010, 8:48am

Out of the frying pan into the Met's tyres; in a slick operation the Metropolitan Police service is recycling waste vegetable oil to power the vehicles that deliver its groceries.

In an innovative move to cut emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. the Met Police has teamed up with energy company Convert2Green and foodservice firm 3663, the food and catering suppliers.

Convert2Green collects and recycles the waste cooking oil of all 93 of the Met's police canteens which is then used to fuel delivery lorries.

The oil is converted to a B30 bio diesel mix - 30% bio fuel and 70% diesel - actively reducing the Met's impact on the environment and producing a range of quality biofuels while recycling waste into carbon savings.

Caroline Mortimer, Director of Catering Services, said: "We are trying to reduce the amount of oil the Met Police use in order to encourage healthier eating. In the meantime, we want to make sure the oil we do use can be disposed of in as green a way as possible.

"We are really pleased that this is forming a cycle where it is then able to be used for the vans in the distribution chain that provide the MPS its groceries."

Between March 2010 - when the MPS started the recycling scheme - and May - almost 9,000 litres of waste oil was collected, a CO2 saving of 18.23 tonnes.

Brian Rowland, Business Development Manager for Convert2Green said: "We're delighted to be working with the Metropolitan Police on this energy initiative which not only saves carbon but also reduces waste to landfill.

"It is vital that forward thinking organisations, such as the Met, take the lead in responsibly disposing of their waste cooking oil with us, so that we can then process it for bio-fuel for use in road transport and to provide heat and power for public buildings."

When James Roberts and Peter Goodey joined forces at the start of the new Millenium to form Peros they couldn't have imagined the success they would achieve.

And their company, which supplies Fairtrade and ethically traded beverages, snacks and associated products and services to the foodservice sector, is now cedlebrating its 10th anniversary.

The pair had already worked together for five years managing on-site catering contracts for blue-chip clients when they became convinced that there was a better way of offering beverage solutions to the foodservice sector.

At the same time, fair and ethically traded goods were beginning to break into mainstream consumer consciousness, and businesses were starting to examine their own social responsibilities.

Against this background, and with a small business loan, Peter and James created Peros, with key objectives to supply Fairtrade products to customers wherever possible and form lasting partnerships between customers, employees and suppliers.

The timing and the principles were spot-on and Peros quickly grew to become the largest independent distributor of Fairtrade to the foodservice sector in the UK. From small premises in Greenford, Middlesex, Peros now has two warehouses totalling nearly 60,000 square feet and a turnover in excess of £20 million.

After 10 years of sustained growth Peros still operates with the same principles and is supported by over 12,500 loyal customers. It's passion for Fairtrade, ethical and sustainable products is as strong as ever and these continue to be offered, alongside complementary equipment and services, across the UK.

As a result of these activities Peros has been able to improve the lives of thousands of people in the developing world. Headline figures include a contribution of over £750,000 to the `One Foundation` that provides clean drinking water to villages across southern Africa through its PlayPumps scheme.