Creative Residents of Petukangan Utara Turn Plastic Bottle Waste into Brooms

Piles of plastic bottles that would normally end up as rubbish have been turned into useful items by residents of Petukangan Utara, South Jakarta. Starting with a bottle donation movement, residents of RT 05/02 voluntarily collect plastic bottles which are then processed into street brooms and mattress brooms.

The activity, which has been running for about five months, involves people from various backgrounds, from teenagers to mothers and fathers. Besides helping to reduce plastic waste, the residents’ creativity has also opened up opportunities for additional income. From around 20 plastic bottles of 1.5-litre size, residents can produce one street broom which is then sold for Rp25,000 to Rp35,000.

The residents’ products have even been marketed to various regions, from Jabodetabek, Sumatra, Bali to Sulawesi through online shopping platforms. For the residents, waste is no longer just an environmental problem, but can also become a source of benefit and income.