Researchers from the Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station in Sinhua Township, Tainan County, have developed a way to turn used cooking grease into compost. Lin Jin-ching, an associate researcher at the station, said Monday that the method, which was developed with the help of National Chung Hsing University in Taichung City, involves using bacteria to break down the oils in the grease.

Before administering the bacteria, however, the grease has to be mixed with a material developed by the station, Lin said. She said that every year Taiwan's restaurants produce about 200,000 tons to 250,000 tons of used grease, which is difficult to dispose of. The new process has been proven to create an effective fertilizer, she said.

The used grease, which is 80 percent water, cannot be burned in incinerator. It turns into hard blocks when dehydrated, damaging waste-disposal machinery. Currently, most used grease is buried in landfills. Lin said the new method will keep restaurants from illegally dumping the grease.