THE first Oil2Wang smart kiosk in Penang was launched at Bukit Gedung in Bayan Lepas today, allowing households to recycle used cooking oil (UCO) and receive instant payments.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Muhamad Khairul Mohd Ali, representing Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, launched the initiative at the MPKK Dewan Desa Mayang in Bukit Gedung by symbolically depositing one kilogram of used cooking oil into the kiosk.
Also present at the ceremony were Pure Aims Technologies Sdn Bhd (PATSBER) chief operations officer Muhammad Luqman Selahuddeen, Southwest District Information Office officer Raja Kamarudin Raja Abdul Rahman, Ustaz Abdul Rashid Abdul Jalil, MPKK Bukit Gedung chairman Izzudin Idris, as well as committee members and residents.
At the launch, held in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration organised by MPKK Bukit Gedung, Muhamad Khairul urged residents in the neighbourhood to make full use of the facility.
“This initiative is not only beneficial for environmental conservation but also provides the community with an opportunity to earn a small income,” he said.
Muhammad Luqman explained that users will receive RM2.50 for every kilogram of used cooking oil deposited.
He added that users must first download the Oil2Wang app and register, ensuring that only authorised users can operate the kiosk to prevent misuse or vandalism. Users are required to scan a QR code at the kiosk to open the compartment before pouring in filtered cooking oil.
Developed by Pure Aims Technologies, a spin-off of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the Oil2Wang kiosk is fully automated, unmanned, and operates 24 hours a day. It uses IoT technology and smart sensors to verify the oil’s weight and density, ensuring that only legitimate UCO is processed.
Once the system detects the UCO, it calculates the amount and transfers payment instantly to the user’s account via the application. Users may opt to receive the payment in cash or donate it to charity.
PATSBER, registered in 2021, installed its first kiosk at Surau Flora, Taman Pulai Flora, Skudai, Johor, in September 2024, and subsequently launched three smart kiosks in Shah Alam, Selangor, the following year.
As of today, the UCO collection kiosks are located at Wisma MBSA (Shah Alam, Selangor), Seksyen 2 (Shah Alam, Selangor), Seksyen U13 (Shah Alam, Selangor), Kampung Teluk Buluh (Hutang Melintang, Perak), Taman Areca Green (Setia Tropica, Johor), Taman Rainforest Kota Masai (Pasir Gudang, Johor), Bukit Siput (Segamat, Johor), Taman Pulau Flora (Iskandar Puteri, Johor) and Lavender Taman Pulai Mutiara (Iskandar Puteri, Johor).
Muhammad Luqman said the company plans to expand its presence in Penang, with future kiosks proposed for Butterworth, Nibong Tebal, Mahsuri MPKK, Teluk Tempoyak, and Pangsapuri Jalan Tengah.
Licensed UCO collectors will be deployed to residential areas once a substantial volume has been accumulated, after which the collected oil will be transported to biodiesel production facilities for recycling.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting