Residents are being urged to save the planet and help Wiltshire Air Ambulance by recycling used cooking oil.

The Marlborough-based waste solutions company Hills is behind the scheme.

Residents can take their used oil to one of the county’s 11 household recycling centres from January 3 until March 2013.

In return, Hills, Wiltshire Council, and eco-firm Living Fuel will donate 25p per litre to the air ambulance.

The oil will be taken to Living Fuels’ recovery unit where it will be transformed into a bioliquid and then used in the Hills renewable energy facilities to provide electricity for homes and businesses.

Cliff Carter, recycling manager at Hills Waste Solutions, said: “Used cooking oil is like liquid gold – once processed it provides carbon neutral electricity for UK homes and business.

“For the first three months of 2013, it will also generate much needed funding for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

“All the public have to do is take their used cooking oil to a HRC and pour it into the specially marked collection tanks. We’ll do the rest.”

One tank can power an average-sized home for a year.

Caroline Corrigan, head of fundraising at the air ambulance, said: “This is an unusual way to support us and a wonderful way to recycle.

“The air ambulance isn’t Government funded but relies on donations.”

For further information, visit www.livingfuels.co.uk or www.hills-waste.co.uk