Background The gradual replacement of fossil fuels by biofuels is a key aim of European environmental policy. Bio-diesel can be made using vegetable oil or animal fat, but at present viability of production is severely restricted by availability of raw materials at a reasonable cost. Growing crops for this type of energy-use requires large areas of land and large quantities of water and results in high levels of residual oils in urban wastewater. These oils are currently being eliminated by procedures such as disposal to landfill and waterways, or by indiscriminate burning. These methods are unsustainable and can generate dangerous pollution problems. One area of interest to researchers trying to solve this dilemma is to utilise used cooking oils (UCOs). These oils are generated by households and are difficult to collect and manage - at the moment they are usually dumped in water sanitation systems causing adverse effects to water resources and hindering subsequent treatment at wastewater treatment plants. It is estimated that one litre of oil can contaminate 1 000 litres of water. UCOs were once used for animal feed and soap but are now prohibited from use in animal feed (EC/1774/2002) and because of inclusion in the European Catalogue of Residues (EC/532/2000) have to be managed via specific process flows. Objectives The 'EDUCO' project seeks to demonstrate the successful and feasible use of UCOs as a feedstock for bio-fuel production. It ultimately hopes to contribute to the long-term replacement of fossil fuels by bio-fuels. The main objective of the project is to design and build a pilot plant for the treatment of UCOs, which will then be used for biodiesel production through cavitation technology. The pilot plant is already under construction and is designed to produce biodiesel using vegetable oils as raw material. It will be adapted and optimised during the project to enable UCOs to be used. An important aim will be to improve techniques for recovering the UCOs. The project will promote use of renewable energy to encourage sustainable consumption in society. In the belief that education is as crucial to reduction of waste as are regulatory and economic mechanisms, it will focus on educating children about recycling, by involving them in the process from an early age. It hopes that the participation of children will have an immediate impact on families and also ensure cultivation of long-term environmentally-friendly habits. Domestic UCO requires pre-treatment before it can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel. It will therefore be collected at schools - where the concept of recycling and use of renewable energy can be instilled - and then subjected to a cleaning process at a work centre. This cleaning process will provide opportunities for meaningful employment and involvement in environmental improvement. Expected results The project will result in the creation and adaptation of an innovative system for collecting UCOs and converting them to bio-diesel by cavitation technology. Specific results will include: A pilot plant for oil treatment; Adaptation and optimisation of an existing pilot plant for bio-diesel production; An increase in the amount of collected UCOs in schools in Catalonia; The design and production of a specific container for collecting UCOs; Bio-diesel produced by the project will be used in a fleet of vehicles collecting UCOs; A decrease in CO2 emissions; and The creation of new jobs at a work centre.