SURVEY ABOUT MANAGEMENT OF WASTE COOKING OIL FROM HOUSEHOLDS: A CASE STUDY

The main aim of this study was to survey the management of waste cooking oil (WCO) from households in Angri, a town of around 34,000 people (about 2,500 inhabitants/km2) in Southern Italy. About 90% of interviewed knew WCO. Around 70% knew that there was a WCO collection program, but slightly more than 50% collected WCO. Eighty-seven percent of the sample was not aware of any informative campaign. Among those not involved in the collection program: 94% claimed to know the damages of a wrong WCO disposal; 46% discharged WCO into the toilet; misinformation was the main source of non-collection. Among those involved in the collection program: slightly more than 57% delivered WCO into the street containers; approximately 50% delivered WCO every month; 65% had not a negatively evaluation of the WCO collection service; 34% stated that they were the unique dealing with the collection of WCO at their home (more than 50% of them were housewives). To overcome the problems identified, it is suggested to: organize communication programs in schools and near shopping centres; set up focus groups with citizens and stakeholders; establish a rewarding competition for housewives, giving prominence to a category that in a traditional society like Southern Italy still plays a fundamental role.