Businesses are being rewarded for their eco-friendly ethos.

As part of the Sustainable Sheppey project, a number of companies on the Island are now donating their used cooking oil to be recycled, instead of just disposing of it.

Charity Oil Works, a partner of the scheme, is working at the Sheppey Mill Green Project, which is run from HMP Standford Hill in Eastchurch.

They collect the liquid, which is then turned into bio-diesel by prisoners who are being trained to do this.

It is then reused within the Sheppey Cluster.

Oil Works team leader Zak Owen is now handing out certificates to businesses which opt to recycle their oil as well as window stickers to show they are ‘green’.

He handed the first one to Ron Wood, of Ron Wood’s Fish and Chip Shop in Leysdown, on Monday and is already working with other kebab shops and chip shops.

Not only is it an environment solution, recycling the oil prevents it being poured down sinks which causes problems with blocked drains.

“By donating it to a local project, the whole Island benefits,” said Mr Owen.

He is also trying to come up with a way to enable householders to recycle their cooking oil for the scheme and is also looking for more businesses to join in.

• To find out more, email oilworks@workthisway.org.uk