Awareness raising regarding waste management in Indonesia is urgently needed. With a population of more than 220 million people and a growth rate of 1.2% the challenges to handle the increasing waste flow will become bigger and bigger.
“You are never too young to learn about waste management and the earlier you start with separating waste the better it is.” Following that guiding principle, Terre des hommes Italy decided to implement a School Garbage Bank Program in Aceh.
The idea behind this program is that students bring their recyclable waste to the schools, where it’s being separated and stored in a Garbage Bank. For each type of waste, such as plastic, glass, paper or aluminum the student receives a compensation that is comparable to the market value.
Each time the student deposits his or her waste at the Garbage Bank, a note is being made in a bank book. After a certain period the student will be able to withdraw the deposit in cash or goods.
To be successful, a garbage bank program should include awareness and educational initiatives targeting teachers, pupils and their families.
In the post-tsunami area of Aceh, where Terre des homes Italy is implementing a pilot garbage bank program within the framework of UNDP’s Tsuunami Waste Management Livelihoods activities, three NGOs have recently been selected to start-up such program in six schools. Terre des homes Italy is providing each school with the garbage bank storage while local NGOs are responsible for awareness raising and educational campaigns within the schools. They also take responsibility to support the schools during the start-up phase of the project.
On July 30th, contracts were signed with three NGOs, namely Sepakat in Lhokseumawe, PPR-Palapa Plastic Recycling Foundation in Banda Aceh and Yapintar in Meulaboh. In the middle of August, PPR had already started to train 32 pupils and 12 teachers in the schools of Banda Aceh. It looks like the two pilot garbage banks will be run by a staff of 3 teachers who will be supported in their functions by the other trainees.
All participants in the training and awareness raising activities were enthusiastic about the initiative. It was the first time they learned that various types of plastic have a different value on the market. Separating them with care brings more money than selling mixed plastics.
The director of the schools were very happy about the School Garbage Bank Program. One of them is hoping that this initiative will help his school to won the next national competition for the cleanest school of Indonesia.
For more pics about the construction, delivery and training of School Garbage Banks in Aceh, please click here.
WML4Aceh 