OIL'S not so well as first thought.

Bridport's award-winning recycling scheme has hit a hurdle as some businesses do not want their used oil picked up.

Bridport TLC, run from St Michael's Trading Estate, collects used oil and turns it into biodiesel.

TLC manager Leon Edwards said: "We've experienced quite substantial stubbornness from some food outlets when we've offered to collect their waste cooking oil for free.

"Some have changed their minds after initially agreeing but most have claimed that their supplier insists on taking it, despite it belonging to the business owner to dispose of it as legally, economically and sustainably as he or she pleases.

"We also made a bit effort to pick up the oil from the kiosks in West Bay and even said we would collect their cardboard for free and 5p from every litre would go to St Mary's School for arts and the environment projects. But none of them got back to us.

"Ours is a very simple principle - if local businesses recycle their oil with us then Bridport wins. It is not about making money."

Mr Edwards said they did not want to be confrontational. "It is more of a 'we could all make the air cleaner if we made a bit more effort'," he said.

Bridport TLC also collects paper from schools, office paper and cardboard from over 40 businesses and organisations a week, plus over one ton of plastic wrappings a month. Recycling waste vegetable oil into biodiesel has meant a drop in CO2 emissions in Bridport of over 46 tonnes, said Mr Edwards.

Hive Beach café owner Steve Attrill was one of the businesses approached by Bridport TLC.

He said: "I have been using the same oil supplier for more than 20 years and they take my oil away to a central depot for recycling. Over that time you build up a good working relationship and loyalty on both sides. Also they obviously get something for my old oil and if they don't have it the cost of my oil will go up.

"There's also a gamble aspect with a new company. I am not saying they will go under but what if they do after a year? It is a difficult market to break into but I think it is brilliant what they are doing."

Peter Bunyan from JBs kiosk in West Bay said he had only seen a leaflet about the scheme.

"We buy our vegetable oil once a week and they take away the used oil. I had understood that they (Bridport TLC) would not collect the oil, but expect us to deliver it.

"We would be more than happy if they took the cardboard away which quite frankly is a bigger headache than the oil."

On the plus side, Mr Edwards said, Dorset County Council has asked them to do a research project on recycling used oil from households and businesses and there will be a six-month trial scheme in Bridport.

The idea is to use school car parks as monthly collection points, with schools receiving 5p a litre to benefit arts and environment activities.