Green Schools / Green Schools Bali / Environment / Biobus

Biobus

Solution Based Learning, Community Engagement & Enterprise

Students are driving change. The Bio Bus social enterprise is a sustainable school transport services that delivers health and waste solutions for used cooking oil. Student initiated, solutions focused, impactful and inspiring, this is learning for sustainability at its best.

A market leader in green transportation, Bio Bus offers the only service in Indonesia operating on 100% renewable energy and the first B(100) Pump Station for public access in Indonesia.

Bio Bus tackles social and environmental issues in Indonesia by starting local. Through collaboration with local communities, the students of Green School have established a powerful example of grass-roots action and entrepreneurial spirit.

The Problem

Economic growth and booming tourism in Bali, Indonesia have caused infrastructure stress, traffic problems and an increase in carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Used Cooking Oil is unregulated, often used well beyond expiry and pumped with chemicals before reselling to eateries. This food contains carcinogens and has been linked to cancer and pulmonary disease. Dumping UCO in rivers causes acidification affecting Bali’s watersheds and ecosystems.

There is a lack of awareness and meaningful education around these pressing issues worldwide.

Learning with a Purpose

In partnership with local non-profit, Lengis Hijau (LH), the idea was launched for a bio-fueled “magic bus” powered by Used Cooking Oil. The glycerine by-product from producing biodiesel is made into bio soap and candles, which are sold at local farmers markets and sustainable events at Green School and in Bali.

Bio Bus offers real-world, solution-based learning with a measureable outcome, offering the opportunity for international and local students to work with local organizations in a reciprocal and empowered manner.

Community

Bio Bus collaborates with local initiatives and villages to improve UCO practices and channel learning toward sustainability. We bring field trip opportunities to local schools in exchange for UCO via Kul Kul Connection, Green School’s community outreach program.

Collaboration

Every week, our ‘Grease Police’ patrol the streets in Bali, collecting used cooking oil from Hotels, Warungs and Restaurants, offering local businesses a responsible solution to dispose of their UCO.

Bio Bus continues to set up replica projects at other Educational Establishments, including the French School, Anglo Chinese School and Canggu Community School in Bali, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the American School Lima, Peru.

Impact

Indonesia faces some of the world’s biggest environmental problems. Bio Bus is a powerful example of the impact that student-centered, community-minded, entrepreneurial problem solving can make, to make our world sustainable.

1800 biodiesel rides provided a year, reducing up to 40 vehicles a day, saving up to 3 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Up to 1,500 litres of UCO collected each month.
Over 300 international students enrolled in the Bio Bus educational program to date, with over 300 local students participating from Green School’s community outreach program.
Involved in over 20 global conferences, raising awareness in Bali, Indonesia and globally around the hazards of UCO.
Piloting replica projects at 4 new schools in Indonesia and 2 internationally.