Luar Batang converts waste into compost<\/p>\n
By Imran Rusli<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): When Hamzah Harun Al Rasyid began his
\ndevelopment project in Kampung Luar Batang in Penjaringan, North
\nJakarta, he had no idea that the village's sewage would become a
\nprospective income earner for the area.<\/p>\n
Under the umbrella of PT Spectra Matrik Indah, an NGO working
\ntogether with the Jakarta administration and the federal
\ngovernment of Germany, Hamzah and his team started in 1989 to
\nlook for any potential the village might have to offer, giving
\npriority to projects promoting hygiene.<\/p>\n
Their initial efforts gave rise to several sewing, weaving and
\npottery businesses, which opened up new economic boundaries for
\nthe locals. Spectra then distributed fruit and flower seeds as
\nwell as two truckloads of precious soil to Luar Batang, which is
\nlocated on the western side of the Ciliwung River. Judging from
\nthe requests for more soil and plants, the project was a great
\nsuccess.<\/p>\n
Despite having improved the local human resources, a means of
\ncleaning the environment had yet to be found. Fewer than 30
\npercent of Luar Batang's houses were equipped with basic lavatory
\nfacilities, with the rest making use of the open ditches in front
\nof their homes. However, Hamzah and his team came up with a way
\nof converting the waste into compost. The villagers heartily
\nwelcomed the idea when they witnessed how eggplant thrived on
\ncompost of their own making, which also helped to cut down on
\nsoil purchasing costs.<\/p>\n
But Spectra's efforts to clean up Luar Batang's polluted
\nenvironment were not enough. As Ilhamsyah Lubis of Spectra said,
\n\"They were only picking up enough for their pots and plants.\"<\/p>\n
Solution<\/p>\n
More than 1.6 tons of mixed sewage is produced in the village
\nevery day.<\/p>\n
\"We arrived at the idea of producing compost based on the
\nassumption that if the village sewage could become a money
\nearner, people of Luar Batang would clean up the ditches without
\nmuch prodding from the authorities,\" explained Hamzah.<\/p>\n
Studies conducted by Sucofindo, a research institute in
\nJakarta, confirmed the assumption. \"Sucofindo recommended that we
\ngo ahead with the compost project,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Thus the beginning of the Luar Batang compost project four
\nyears later in 1993. A 100-square-meter plot of land beside the
\nJami' Mosque was used for the compost factory and Spectra
\nprovided a subsidy to two locals, 43-year-old M. Toha and
\n45-year-old Slamet, in the form of six monthly orders of
\nRp 100,000 (US$43.34) per month.<\/p>\n
The factory slowly consumed all of the sewage in Luar Batang.<\/p>\n
\"If people don't clean the ditches, we do it for them and
\ndeliver it to the factory,\" said Slamet, who has been earning a
\nliving from the compost business ever since his subsidy was
\nended.<\/p>\n
Process<\/p>\n
The processing of composting does not require a complicated
\nsystem. The sewage has to be sifted according to the material,
\nsuch as plastic, wood, galvanized iron and glass. The rest of the
\nwaste has to be fermented under the sun, aided by a bamboo air
\nfunnel. Once a week the material has to be turned -- twice if
\nthere is good sunlight -- for a recommended period of 40 days.
\nThe compost must then be sieved, packed and prepared for
\nmarketing.<\/p>\n
Compost from Luar Batang is now a household name among plant
\ntraders in Jakarta and Bekasi.<\/p>\n
\"It's just a shame that the payment process is so slow. I have
\nto go back several times to collect the money. One delivery costs
\nRp 20,000, but I get paid in installments of Rp 10,000,\" complained
\nSlamet.<\/p>\n
Hamzah and Ilhamsyah have been successful in alleviating Luar
\nBatang's pollution problem while creating a money making venture
\nin the process.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Harun Al Rasyid noted with pride: \"Each month we market
\nan average of two tons of processed compost at Rp 200 per
\nkilogram, packed and labeled. Clogged ditches are history now.
\nThe terraces of Luar Batang are freshly covered with greens. But,
\nmost of all, Kampung Luar Batang has been free of floods all year
\nlong.\"<\/p>\n
The only concern he has now is to convince the villagers that
\nthere is money to be made from sewage.<\/p>\n
\"If marketing goes well and demand grows at fair prices, we
\nare sure that every villager will be willing to process the
\nsewage of Luar Batang's ditches.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/luar-batang-converts-waste-into-compost-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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