In 2024, CONOE—the Italian National Consortium for the Collection and Treatment of Used Vegetable and Animal Oils and Fats—reported the collection of 80,345 tonnes of used oils. This figure represents nearly the entire volume generated by professional sectors such as industry, catering, and artisanal production, and over 25% of the total amount of waste oils produced nationwide within a year.
These results are outlined in CONOE’s 2024 Financial Report and are consistent with the data recorded in 2023. According to national estimates, the total annual production of waste oils and fats in Italy stands at approximately 300,000 tonnes, with around 38% generated by professional activities and the remaining 62% originating from household sources. CONOE plays a central role not only in waste collection but also in the valorization of used vegetable oils through regeneration processes. In 2024, over 98% of the collected waste oils were reprocessed, primarily for the production of second-generation biodiesel.
This achievement is particularly significant from an environmental standpoint: the regeneration of these oils prevented the emission of approximately 107,000 tonnes of CO₂. By promoting the reuse of used oils in energy production, CONOE significantly contributes to Italy’s ecological transition and to reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, despite these encouraging results, the sector continues to face key structural challenges. One major issue is the market positioning of regenerated oils, which suffer from competition with lower-cost imported products.
Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive regulatory recognition for regenerated oils further weakens their competitiveness. This regulatory gap risks undermining the efforts made by the national supply chain and could slow down the progress achieved in recent years. In response, CONOE has initiated discussions with relevant ministries to advocate for policy changes and to develop appropriate and effective solutions. From an economic perspective, the 2024 financial statements reflect a positive operating result and confirm the Consortium’s continued financial stability.
This strong economic foundation has allowed CONOE to expand its strategic activities throughout the year. Noteworthy developments in 2024 include:
- The growth in partnerships with public entities and municipal sanitation companies;
- Increased monitoring and enforcement efforts to combat illegal waste disposal;
- Ongoing support to companies within the waste oil recovery supply chain;
- Intensified communication and public awareness campaigns.
“The CONOE Consortium continues to stand as a model of circular economy, combining effective waste management, environmental sustainability, and local collaboration,” stated President Tommaso Campanile. “The data from 2024 confirms the soundness of our work and motivates us to further enhance waste oil collection, especially within the household sector.” Looking forward, CONOE is reaffirming its strategic commitment to increasing the quantity of used oils intercepted and processed.
The Consortium aims to strengthen partnerships with municipalities, large-scale retailers (GDO), and citizens to ensure that every liter of waste oil is properly collected, regenerated, and valorized, rather than causing environmental harm. Indeed, used oils represent a serious environmental hazard when improperly disposed of. A single liter of oil, if released into the environment, can contaminate up to thousands of liters of water, damaging ecosystems and water resources.
This makes proper collection and treatment not only an industrial responsibility but a civic priority. In this context, CONOE’s ongoing commitment to awareness-raising and its efforts to streamline waste oil recovery infrastructure are critical. By increasing collection efficiency and promoting responsible behavior among citizens and businesses, the Consortium continues to demonstrate how waste can be transformed into a resource, fully aligned with the principles of a modern, zero-waste, circular economy.
