Dead stranded whale to be turned into biofuel

(UK) A young whale washed up on a remote beach is to be rendered down to produce around 2,000 litres of biofuel for cars and lorries.
The 10m fin whale, weighing six tons and 780kgs, died after being stranded on Sunday afternoon on the beach at Shingle Street near Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Suffolk Coastal District Council which was responsible for removing the carcass decided to do something 'useful' with the body instead of dumping it on a landfill site or towing it out to sea to rot.
The council arranged for the carcass to be taken off the beach on Thursday in a sealed container and taken away by local rendering frim Clarkes of Melton.
Clarkes of Melton owner Philip Clarke sent the whale to another specialist firm to have its tallow oil removed from its blubber.
He said: "It could well produce two tons of oil which will be enough for 2,000 litres of biofuel. It will be fuel for vehicles to drive thousands of miles.
"The bulk of the rest of the whale will be incinerated at a power station which uses animal remains as fuel to produce electricity. Nothing will go to waste."
Council spokesman Viv Hotten said: "It is sad that the whale died, but we are pleased that the carcass is going to be put to good use.
"It is much better that we do this rather than take up space on a landfill site or dump it at sea."
The Zoological Society of London was unable to determine how the whale died as it could not carry out a full post mortem on the beach which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

-  Telegraph.co.uk