Waste for cash: Che placing his used cooking oil to be weighed for recycling at the Tanjung Bungah Market in Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Every month, about 5,000kg of used cooking oil is produced in the state, with most of them ending up in the state’s waterways.
From drains and rivers, they can reach the sea – spelling disaster for the marine environment.
For the last four months, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has been preventing this from happening. Since August, it has collected some 20 tonnes of used cooking oil as part of its Used Cooking Oil Recycling Programme.
As a bonus, hawkers can earn RM3 per kg of used cooking oil, on top of getting free containers to hold the oil for selling.
MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the used cooking oil, if not properly disposed of, would end up in public drains or at the Pulau Burong landfill, negatively impacting Penang’s cleanliness and the state’s marine life.
He said the council had partnered with Petronas to establish the first collection hub at Lebuh Cecil Market here. The council is now working with Arus Oil to collect and manage used cooking oil at a new collection hub at the nearby Tanjung Bungah Market.
Rajendran said Arus Oil, an agency which has facilities to purify used cooking oil, would send the recycled oil to Singapore to be upcycled into biodiesel, which can even be a sustainable fuel alternative.
“Used cooking oil holds significant recycling potential. Through this initiative, individuals and vendors can sell their used cooking oil to companies like Arus Oil, creating a structured waste management system that benefits both the public and MBPP,” Rajendran said during the launch of the centre at the market yesterday.He said the initiative aligned with Penang’s goal of fostering a sustainable and green state.
He also commended efforts by MBPP councillor Lee Seng Hwai and the Tanjung Bungah village community management council (MPKK) team for leading the initiative.
Lee said that from February, the public could sell their used cooking oil for RM3 per kg to Arus Oil at Tanjung Bungah Market.
“The collection will be done on the first Thursday of every month from 6pm to 7pm,” he said.
The hawkers at the public market said they were pleased with the initiative.
Western food seller Beh Chin Chong, 39, said it would benefit not only households, but hawkers as well.
“I can now dispose of my used cooking oil properly and get money at the same time,” he said.
Che Chin Seng, 59, said he had received RM33 for selling about 11kg of used cooking oil.
“I can buy quality cooking oil with this money and use it at my stall,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rajendran said the recycling centre at the market has collected 6,666 kg of recyclable items and 139 pieces of electronic waste this year.
This was a huge increase from the 2,097kg of recyclables and 96 pieces of e-waste in 2022, and 5,961kg of recyclables items and 125 pieces of e-waste in 2023.
As of this year, he said, the council had established 24 recycling centres across Penang Island.
