In eight years, the campaign “Recycle Your Oil” managed to recover 45,445 tons of used cooking oil. This prevented the contamination of over 49 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to filling 19,759 Olympic pools. An enormous environmental contribution that demonstrates how a everyday waste can become a valuable resource.
In Argentina, more than 120 million liters of used vegetable oil are generated each year. A large part ends up in water bodies or soils, severely affecting ecosystems. Managing it correctly not only avoids this damage but also transforms it into raw material to produce second-generation biofuels, in line with a circular economy model.
The Santa Fe-based company DH-SH, a leader in logistics and industrial sanitation, incorporated the collection and conditioning of used oil in 2017. Through green points for residents and agreements with restaurants and gastronomic establishments, it promotes the responsible management of this waste, preventing it from reaching nature.
Just in 2024, the initiative collected 11,903 tons of used oil, which meant preserving more than 12.9 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to 5,175 Olympic pools. The accumulated impact shows that small actions multiplied over years generate massive environmental results.
The initiative proposes to convert used oil into energy. Photo: DH-SH.
Grow with Solidity and Multiply Impact
Although the collection decreased slightly compared to 2023, the company explains that it was a strategy to consolidate its structure and optimize the value chain. Currently, they operate in 15 provinces and have 430 green points and 39 municipal agreements, in addition to a team of 21 collectors distributed throughout the country.
The collected oil is conditioned and destined for both the domestic market and for export for the production of biodiesel and HVO, advanced biofuels that reduce emissions compared to fossil fuels. In 2024, they also recovered 5,585 tons of waste from the oil industry, avoiding the contamination of more than 580 hectares of soil.
Additionally, the company promotes the educational program “Little Big Recyclers”, which in 2024 reached over 1,200 students with talks and workshops on the life cycle of vegetable oil and its proper disposal. These actions seek to instill sustainable habits from childhood.
used oil
The Benefits of Recycled Oil
In partnership with the Faculty of Agronomy of the UBA, they also carry out research on the impact of frying oil use on health. The results will be key to guiding more responsible policies and practices in food and waste management.
DH-SH reaffirms its commitment to the UN Global Compact every year and has certifications such as the Green Seal from the Santa Fe Ministry of Environment. With a triple impact strategy, it combines environmental, social, and economic benefits, demonstrating that sustainability can be the cornerstone of a profitable business model.
The case of “Recycle Your Oil” shows that recycling is not just a matter of waste management, but an opportunity to generate clean energy, protect water, and educate society. A clear example of how local and sustained action over time can transform the environmental reality.
