Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa is set to introduce a mandatory digital system for the disposal of used cooking oil, a move aimed at improving waste management, protecting public health and supporting the production of cleaner fuels.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided that food business operators will be required to sell or hand over their waste cooking oil through an online platform developed by the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and managed by its authorised partner, BiofuelCircle.
The initiative seeks to create a structured and traceable network for the collection and recycling of used cooking oil, ensuring that it is diverted towards biodiesel manufacturing instead of being discarded irresponsibly.
Officials believe the system will bring greater transparency to the sector by digitally recording transactions between establishments generating waste oil and authorised collectors. The platform is also expected to improve compliance monitoring and discourage practices such as dumping oil into drainage systems or releasing it into the environment.
Authorities have also underlined the health risks associated with repeatedly reusing cooking oil. Excessive reheating can alter the chemical composition of oil, producing substances that may contribute to lifestyle diseases and other health complications.
Under food safety regulations, cooking oil that exceeds the prescribed limit of Total Polar Compounds (TPC) is considered unfit for further use. The new mechanism is expected to help ensure that such oil is safely removed from the food supply chain and directed towards approved recycling channels.
According to officials, the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote resource recovery and sustainable energy solutions by transforming a waste product into a valuable raw material for biodiesel production.
The digital platform is expected to strengthen coordination among food establishments, collectors and processors while helping Goa advance its environmental sustainability goals.
