MPK duo take on role of eco-warriors to raise awareness

Friends Ruzaana (left) and Rohani are dubbed as eco-warriors as the duo go around to educate and inspire homemakers and restaurant owners to collect their fryer oil and deposit it at a collection point for recycling.

FRIENDS Ruzaana Abdul Rahman and Rohani Mat are dubbed as “eco-warriors” as the duo go around to educate and inspire restaurant owners and homemakers to collect their fryer oil and deposit it at a collection point, for recycling.

The women also create awareness among the public to use reusable cloth bags for shopping and to bring tiffin carriers to pack food from stalls or restaurants.

Over the past months, Ruzaana and Rohani are on a mission to convince restaurant owners not to pour fryer oil into the sink but instead collect and pass the oil to convert it into biodiesel.

Ruzaana and Rohani work with Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Urban Planning Department and their love for a cleaner environment have seen them encouraging restaurant owners to recycle used oil.

Love Mom Restaurant owner Paramaswary Nadasan is in total support for a greener environment and does not pour fryer oil into the sink but dutifully tips the stale oil into a large drum in her shop.

“In a little more than three weeks it will be full and a private company will collect the oil to be processed into biodiesel.

“Every three weeks, 35kg to 45kg of used oil is collected. I am paid RM1 for a kg of used oil.

“Cash earned from the sale of the used oil is contributed to an NGO for self-development programmes.

“I believe in creating a better environment and that is why I have installed three grease traps; so that the grease, fats and oil do not enter the drains,” she added.

Asked how she ends up with so much used oil, Paramaswary said she changes cooking oil after frying each batch to ensure the food is fresh.

Ruzaana said what Paramaswary is doing, is becoming a common practice among 16 restaurants that have joined the recycling of used fryer oil under Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Greener Environment 2050.

Port Klang’s Kampung Raja Uda Mosque official Ismail Arsat, who coordinates the collection of used fryer oil from residents living in the village, said people are warming up to the idea of bringing the oil to the collection point at the mosque.

“At certain times of the week, we speak to the congregation on the importance of protecting the environment and keeping the neighbourhood clean.

“Traders, residents and stall owners have been told of the collection of used cooking oil and lately there are more people bringing the oil to the collection point,” he said.

Ismail added that since August, on average 80kg to 90kg is collected monthly.

“Our religious teachers are inculcating the habit of recycling among the worshippers especially with the millennials.

“Whatever is earned from the sale of used cooking oil goes to the mosque education foundation,” he said.