“EXTENSION PROJECT “ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER”: AN EXPERIENCE REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, REVERSE LOGISTICS AND ENGINEERING TRAINING (2020–2025)

Abstract

The improper disposal of used cooking oil is a significant and often neglected challenge in the context of basic sanitation in Brazil, since each liter disposed of in sinks or water bodies has the potential to contaminate up to 25,000 liters of water, compromising aquatic ecosystems, increasing treatment costs, and intensifying the water crisis. In this context, this paper presents an in-depth experience report of the “One Hand Washes the Other” Project, an extension initiative of the State University of Minas Gerais, João Monlevade Unit, in continuous operation since March 2020, discussing its trajectory, quantitative and qualitative results, and contributions to the training of engineering students. The investigation adopts a qualitative-descriptive approach, based on document analysis, systematized operational records, and theoretical reflection anchored in transformative environmental education, experiential learning, the CDIO framework, and the National Curriculum Guidelines for Engineering courses. Over six years of operation, between 2020 and 2025, the project collected more than 18,400 liters of used cooking oil, a volume equivalent to protecting approximately 460 million liters of water, produced about 17,700 liters of biodegradable soap, promoted 47 workshops with the participation of over 1,200 people, and benefited up to 15 institutions monthly. In 2024, 513 liters of soap were destined for the state of Rio Grande do Sul in response to floods, highlighting the social reach of the initiative. The project was also replicated by the Municipality of Nova Era, Minas Gerais, and received a Motion of Applause from the Municipal Chamber of João Monlevade. The results demonstrate that university extension, when articulated with teaching and research, constitutes an effective instrument for humanized professional training, measurable socio-environmental intervention, and the production of applied knowledge, configuring itself as a replicable model for Engineering courses that seek to operationalize the academic triad around local environmental problems.