Ecological gap: Half of Poles still pour out food oil into the sink
We segregate plastic, collect textiles, talk about recycling – and yet used oil after frying still goes to the sewage system. The survey carried out at the request of the Olejata project shows that more than half of Poles do so. Often due to lack of knowledge. This also applies to young people who are not foreign to ecological slogans – but theory is not enough. We need simple and available solutions. Good news? In Poland, these are starting to appear.
Instead of sorting – we pour
Oil after frying, marinade made of dried tomatoes, floods after canned tuna. All this belongs to the waste category that still operates on the margins of daily recycling practices. Although the vast majority of Poles (up to 84%) agree with the statement that the correct utilization of used oil has a positive impact on the environment, in practice their knowledge on this subject is limited.
Only every fourth respondent can indicate the right way to deal with oil after frying. Others most often pour it into a toilet or sink, which leads to pollution of water and installation faults, or throw them into mixed garbage, where he degrades other waste and prevents it from processing.
We need a system – not only knowledge
Interestingly, when Poles find out that there are special points for collecting used food oil, i.e. oilcomers, most of them declare their readiness to act. Despite the short operation of the project (the first devices stood in the Redzikowo commune in October 2024), 10% of respondents already had the opportunity to use devices, and nearly 80% ensures that it would do it if they were available locally. This shows that with the appropriate infrastructure, ecological habits are within reach.
Why is it not happening today? The barrier is not a lack of conviction – but a lack of convenience, access and clear tips. The most frequently indicated motivators include: the proximity of the pickup point (71%), a convenient form of collection (41%) and a small reward for commitment (34%).
– “Today, the most common scenario is, unfortunately, the one in which the used oil after frying goes to the sewage system. It is harmful to both the environment and infrastructure – it causes congestion, contaminated water, hinders the operation of the treatment plant. However, our study shows clearly: the problem is not a lack of good will, but lack of access to simple and convenient tools. Oils are the answer to this deficit. A local and accessible way to get rid of oil properly.
– comments Małgorzata Rdest, vice president of Emka Oil, initiator of the oilomaty project.
A generation that can do everything – except for oil segregation
The results of the study particularly toss light on one age group-people aged 18-24. Although this group is the most familiar with technology and most often declaring interest in ecology, it falls the least in terms of real behavior.
Only 69% of representatives of this group claim that they regularly segregate waste – this is the lowest result in the entire study. Nearly a third of them admits that he does not know what to do with oil after frying (19%) or simply does not do it (11%). What is important, however – this is also a group that most often indicates that their convenience, reward or intuitive application would encourage them to act.
– “Closed circulation economy requires not only appropriate technologies on the side of producers, but also changes in everyday consumer habits. In this context, the youngest generations have the chance to become natural ambassadors of this change – provided that they get simple, intuitive tools. Their openness to digital solutions is a huge potential that is worth using. be easy, available and built into people already known to people, e.g. applications or reward systems “
– emphasizes dr hab. Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz, professor from the Warsaw School of Economics.
Oils operate – municipalities already know it
Although still new, oilcomes are already operating in 45 cities throughout Poland today, in total in over 70 locations. This is proof that the solution responds to real needs – both residents and local governments. On the one hand, it facilitates the selective collection of difficult waste fraction, on the other – it supports municipalities in achieving more and more demanding recycling purposes and is part of the assumptions of the closed circulation economy.
This is confirmed by the experience of local authorities and representatives of municipal units. In Sochaczew, where devices have been operating since January 2025, it is not only noticeable to change the behavior of residents, but also an increase in interest in segregation. As Daniel Kamil Janiak, mayor of the city says:
– “In Sochaczew, we have often heard from the inhabitants that they want to act more ecologically, but they do not know how. The oilcomm turned out to be a response to this problem. Since its launch, we observe an increase in interest in selective collection also in other areas Sometimes one missing puzzle element is enough. ”
In turn, Michał Klonowski, president of Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Komunalnej in Żyrardów, draws attention not only to the systemic dimension of the solution, but also to its educational role:
– “Waste in the form of used oil over the years did not fit into standard collection systems, which caused the inhabitants. Fraction is a tool that really helps us implement GOZ principles at the local level. ”
Oil as a raw material, not a problem – what are oilcomers?
Oil -mate is the first devices in Poland for selective collection of used kitchen oil. They were created on the initiative of Emka Oil and are based on partnership with local governments, mobile application and educational activities. The collected oil goes to recycling – it can gain a second life as, among others biofuel, candles or cleaning products.
Thanks to campaigns such as “you will pass the oil, you have a tree!”, Residents gain additional motivation to change the habits – for the right amount of oil, they receive the plant seedling. The project not only organizes the waste collection system, but also realistically supports the development of a closed circulation economy.
Poles want to act pro -ecologically, but they still don’t know how to do it well. Recycling of used oil is a real chance to improve the environment – provided that we create a system that will operate not only at the level of ideas, but also a kitchen sink for every household. Small steps lead to a great change.
About the oil -mate project
Olejaty is a revolutionary system that allows the creation of points of network networks with machines to which the local community can reflect used food oil (UCO) at the level of municipalities, cities and other organizational units. This project will bring a significant increase in the level of recycling and recovery from waste at local and national level. This system consists of special machines, but also innovative bottles, interactive mobile application, logistics processes, recycling and reporting processes, as well as extensive educational and promotional activities, including the flagship project of Emka Oil – “you will pass oil, you have a tree!”.
