Kusina to Kalikasan: Used Oil Recycling for Climate Action

‘Kusina to Kalikasan: Used Oil Recycling for Climate Action’ is a Vocational Service-driven environmental initiative of the Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park that transforms a common household practice into a platform for skills development, ethical responsibility, and community-based sustainability.

Improper disposal of used cooking oil contributes to water pollution, clogged drainage systems, and increased flood risk–an urgent concern in many urban communities. Through Kusina to Kalikasan, the club addresses this issue through a practical, skills-oriented approach that promotes proper waste handling, discipline, and responsible work habits, while advancing climate action.

At the core of the project is the participation of students and households, who are trained on proper collection, storage, labeling, and turnover of used cooking oil. These activities introduce participants to foundational vocational skills that mirror real-world practices in the food service, waste management, and recycling industries, demonstrating that even household-level actions can reflect professional standards and ethical practice.

The project is led by the Interact Club of Macario B. Asistio Sr. High School, placing students at the forefront of vocational learning and environmental responsibility. Interact members conducted awareness sessions, coordinated household oil collection, and modeled accountability and discipline-empowering them to influence their peers, families, and communities through everyday, skills-based climate action.

A key vocational component of the initiative is its partnership with COPI International, a licensed and environmentally compliant recycler.

Through this collaboration, participants gain exposure to industry-aligned recycling processes and the principles of the circular economy. Collected used oil is assigned an equivalent peso value, demonstrating how responsible environmental behavior can generate tangible economic value that may be reinvested in future school-based environmental initiatives.

Designed for continuity and replication, Kusina to Kalikasan establishes schools as permanent collection hubs, with Interact members and teachers serving as long-term stewards of the program. By integrating environmental stewardship with vocational awareness, ethical practice, and applied learning, the project reflects Rotary’s commitment to Vocational Service-showing that meaningful climate action can begin at home and grow through informed, engaged communities.

Written by: Good President Vangie Abanes, Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park