Although fried food is not considered healthy, cooking oil remains one of the nine essential ingredients frequently used by the Indonesian population. According to data from the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Industry Association (GIMNI), the cooking oil market in Indonesia reached approximately 4.6 million tons in 2018. This number is expected to increase along with population growth. However, the rise in cooking oil usage also means an increase in used cooking oil waste, which is often discarded into drains or rivers, negatively impacting the environment.
Research from the Jakarta Provincial Environmental Agency shows that 97.6% of Jakarta residents dispose of used cooking oil into water channels and soil, polluting the environment every month. Yet, this waste can be better utilized.
Used cooking oil can be transformed into something valuable. Tunasmuda Care Foundation (T-CARE), which focuses on the education of Indonesia’s young generation, launched the #JelantahBawaBerkah program in 2020. In collaboration with an ISCC-certified biodiesel technology company, they collect used cooking oil from households in Greater Jakarta. Through @donasijelantah, used cooking oil can be picked up for free.
This program supports the initiatives of the Jakarta Provincial Government. The profits from used cooking oil are used to fund social programs such as learning centers and scholarships for orphans. Besides households, T.CARE also provides donation jerry cans in every room of the Jakarta Environmental Agency so employees can donate their used cooking oil.
“We believe that by empowering the community in managing used cooking oil, we not only reduce the negative impact on the environment but also create economic and social opportunities. The #JelantahBawaBerkah program is a tangible form of our commitment to building a cleaner and more sustainable future. We are very grateful to all parties who have supported and participated in this program. Together, we can make a significant difference,” said Desy, Head of Environment Sustainability T.CARE.
Research by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia in 2022 shows that T.CARE empowers the community through stages of preparation, assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. This program is sustainable with no termination of contact. The community experiences both material benefits such as increased income and non-material benefits like improved knowledge, cleaner environment, and involvement in social activities.
For more details, visit Instagram accounts @donasijelantah and @tcare.id.
Research Link: https://lib.ui.ac.id/m/detail.jsp?id=20526371&lokasi=lokal
