Police officers in Bangkok are appealing to the public for help, against high fuel prices.

When driving around the cramped streets became too costly, police looked for a cheaper alternative.

Bangkok's officers are now clamping down on climate change with the help of the community.

On patrol with Bangkok's finest, the congested roads of the Thai capital are a formidable foe to the city's police force.

The traffic and high fuel prices have forced Bangkok's police to look for inventive alternatives to power their fleet.

"When the gas price goes higher, it means we have to spend more money for gas," explained Bangkok Police Chief, Santi Jeekungwan.

"With the budget we have, we end up buying less gas for our vehicles, so it's means we go out patrolling less than before."

Today they're on the hunt for one such alternative.

Instead of looking for new sources, they're turning to more traditional ones.

At one temple, the police are collecting used oil from the ceremonial lamps.

The temple gives them the oil.

It will be treated to become biofuel and eventually run a fleet of police vehicles.

Recycling this oil not only benefits the police, it stops the oil from ending up in Bangkok's already inundated sewage system.

Oil also comes from restaurants, and leftover food must be meticulously removed from the prospective fuel.

The used oil is then processed in a series of tanks set up in the garage of the police station.

This station produces more than 500 liters of biofuel a month, which saves them more than $300 on fuel.

This unit was the first of 32 in Bangkok.

Today, there are more than 80 in the whole country.

"I think a pioneer is needed in order to start any new project," said Police Sgt. Sit Boonkamoon.

"In central Bangkok, we started from one station, and then all the other stations followed."

Fast food restaurants are also giving up their used cooking oil.

It's really the community which is fueling this project.

Donations like this help the police fight crime and climate change.