We’re absolutely thrilled to share some fantastic news!
Our collaborative project with Severn Trent and local Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) around Birmingham and the Black Country has been nominated for a Water Industry Award 2025. The nomination is for the “Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year,” and we couldn’t be prouder.
This project, led by Severn Trent, is all about protecting our region’s waterways and preventing damaging sewer blockages. At Lifecycle, we’re providing fat, oil and grease (FOG) management to the Gurdwaras, as well as collecting their used cooking oil, before turning it into sustainable biofuel at our state-of-the-art plant in Wednesbury.
It’s a brilliant way to help the environment and support the amazing community work Gurdwaras do.
The project – stopping fatbergs and protecting waterways
We’ve teamed up with Severn Trent and our region’s Gurdwaras to help them easily and responsibly get rid of their used cooking oil.
Gurdwaras do amazing work feeding the community – every Gurdwara has a kitchen called a langar, which is used by volunteers to cook and provide free meals to both the congregation and wider community. The purpose of the langar is to provide people who need food with something to eat, and it’s available to absolutely everyone!
Feeding all those people across our region means that Gurdwaras use lots of oils and fats, which need to be disposed of. This is a big deal because if oils and fats go down the drain, they can cause serious blockages in the sewers and can even end up polluting natural waterways. As part of this programme, we’re collecting this waste oil (and inviting the congregation to drop off their used cooking oil too) and taking it over to our new plant in Wednesbury. There, we transform it into sustainable biofuels, helping to power a greener future for everyone.
Our CEO, Adam Thompson, is really excited about the nomination:
“We’re honoured that this project has been put forward for a Water Industry Award. It shows what amazing things can happen when we all pull together. Gurdwaras do such valuable work feeding so many people across the community, and this initiative helps to give the oil they use a second life as renewable energy.”
Good for waterways, great for green energy
Adam also highlighted the bigger picture: “This project is right at the heart of what we do at Lifecycle Oils. By collecting and recycling used cooking oil, we’re stopping it from polluting waterways and damaging sewers. And by turning this waste into sustainable biofuel, we’re creating greener energy for the UK. It’s a win for the environment and a win for the community.”
We’re keen to see more Gurdwaras across the UK get involved. If your Gurdwara wants to know more about how we can help, we’d love to hear from you.
Making a mark in the new Gurdwara handbook
And there’s more good news! Our cooking oil recycling service has also been featured in a new handbook by Gurdwara Aid. This guide is packed with useful info for Gurdwaras and is even being presented to Parliament for approval. It’s great to see sustainable practices like oil recycling being highlighted as an important part of community operations.
We’re passionate about finding smart ways to manage waste and create renewable energy – and we’re always looking to build positive partnerships like this
The awards are set for 24th June – wish us luck!
