A Dandenong South innovator was in the running for a state youth award.
Dale Barnett, 29, was a finalist for the Small Business Achiever Award at the Victorian Young Achiever Awards, presented on Friday 26 May.
He didn’t walk away with the honour but received plenty of praise.
Mr Barnett is the co-founder and director of Biofuel Innovations, which turns waste oil into biodiesel, an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum diesel.
He’s a chemical engineer by trade and learnt basic welding and electrical work to help with the plant’s construction.
Biofuel Innovations generates $2.4 million revenue annually and provides a course-accredited internship program for university students.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said the awards showcased “the incredible talent within our community and the ways that young people are continuing to inspire others”.
“Dale is a fantastic example to the young people of Dandenong that they can make creative and valuable contributions to the community,” she said.
Awards Patron and Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos congratulated every nominee.
“You are all making a real difference to our state and it’s important that we celebrate your contribution to Victoria,” she said.
The Biofuel Innovations plant can produce about 30,000 litres of biofuel per month, and expansions are planned.
The biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine without modification as a replacement for fossil diesel.
Biofuel Innovations received a Greater Dandenong Council business grant in 2015, and last year was a nominee for a Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Business Award.
Mr Barnett met business partner Dr Rebecca Yee through friends.
They shared a commitment to sustainability that grew into their business.
“A lot of people don’t think about their waste,” Dr Yee said.
“Fish and chip shop owners have a lot of things to manage, and in many cases up to 20 litres of oil a week is just dumped.”
Much of Australia’s waste commercial cooking oil is sent overseas.
“We export our waste oil then import it back again, but we don’t know what has been done to it,” she said.
“We want fuel that is Melbourne made.”
