Palm oil collected from Hong Kong beaches after spill to be recycled and turned into fuel
Officials confirmed to have approached at least two biodiesel companies to collect some of the 211 tonnes that fell into the sea
A large portion of the washed-up palm oil clumps that the government collected from Hong Kong’s beaches and shorelines over the last two weeks will be recovered, refined and turned into transport fuel.
It was understood as of Wednesday evening the government had approached at least two companies to collect some of the 211 tonnes of the stearin – which fell into the sea when two boats crashed in mainland waters – for waste oil recycling.
Tseung Kwan O-based ASB Biodiesel will be helping the Environment Protection Department turn a portion of the vegetable oil waste into biodiesel, and that some of it had already arrived at its factory.
On Wednesday, a department spokesman said the collected palm stearin would “decay easily under a damp environment”.
“The [department] earlier approached two local biodiesel companies for them to collect the recyclable palm stearin recovered and turn it into biodiesel or other recycled commodities the soonest possible,” he added.