Fuel converted from recycled used cooking oil could be used to power the cars of Deal’s motorists.

Jane Langstaff, an environmentalist and businesswoman, is trying to secure permission to site a 1,000-litre container so residents and business people can responsibly dispose of used cooking oil which would usually be poured down drains or sent to landfill.

Under the proposals, Envirogroup would provide and maintain the container at the recycling plant in Southwall Road, Deal.

The Faversham-based company would be responsible for collections and converting the oil into biodiesel before returning it to Deal for use by tradesmen’s vans or public transport providers in Deal.

Envirogroup director Kym Leatt said: "Buses and taxis are ideal to be run on biodiesel.

"Eight thousand litres of biodiesel will run a normal family car for over 70,000 miles and at the same time reduce Co2 emissions by around 70-80 per cent – all from a waste product that would either have been poured down drains or sent to landfill."

He added: "Once it is collected from the tip and taken to our yard in Faversham, the ‘good’ oil, which rises to the top, can be filtered from the fats, which are thicker and sink to the bottom."

Fuel with a small concentration of biodiesel is already being used by bus operator Stagecoach in the district.

Verdant, the company that manages the Southwall Road site, has confirmed the proposal is being considered and an Environmental Health assessment will be conducted before a decision is made.