Judging Begins for Jakarta 2026 Waste-Sorting and Processing Heroes
The interview-verification stage of the judging for Jakarta’s 2026 Pilah Olah Sampah Heroes programme officially began on Thursday (29 October).
A total of 24 participants in the community organiser category are taking part in the verification interviews. They are being assessed by four technical judges from four work units within the Jakarta Provincial Government.
On the first day, 10 participants had the opportunity to present their initiatives. They were divided into two interview sessions: six participants in the morning and four in the afternoon.
The afternoon participants joined online, while the judges gathered at Grha Ali Sadikin at Jakarta City Hall in Central Jakarta.
Each participant was given 10 minutes to outline the waste-sorting and processing innovations or programmes they had launched. The presentations were followed by question-and-answer sessions with the judges.
Participants in this session came from East and North Jakarta. They included people with backgrounds closely connected to environmental work, such as the founder of a waste-sorting centre and innovators behind various environmental programmes.
The judges expressed admiration and appreciation for the participants’ work. One of them was Elisabeth Tarigan, Head of Community Participation, Data and Information at the Jakarta Environmental Agency.
“Seeing their enthusiasm and efforts, and all the sacrifices they have made in terms of money, time and everything else, really gives Jakarta hope,” Elisabeth said.
Elisabeth was joined by three other judges from separate work units: the Communications, Informatics and Statistics Agency; the Regional Secretariat’s Government Bureau; and the Regional Secretariat’s Development and Environment Bureau.
Martiningtyas Yunitasari, Head of the Cleanliness Subgroup at the Regional Secretariat’s Development and Environment Bureau, said she was impressed by the initiatives presented by participants.
“There was even a student from a public senior high school who applied. A lot of initiatives have emerged,” she said.
She said the programme had also helped her learn more about community groups that care about waste sorting and processing and have taken the initiative to act. In her view, these efforts should receive government support.
In addition to offering support, the Jakarta Provincial Government has expressed its appreciation to participants in the 2026 Pilah Olah Sampah Heroes programme. The aim is for the programme to provide a platform for organisers to share their stories and experience, and to inspire others in the community.
“We hope more activists, advocates and community figures will emerge to mobilise and empower people in their own neighbourhoods,” said Rizky Anggoro, Head of the Correctional Institutions Subgroup at the Regional Secretariat’s Government Bureau.
The interview-verification judging will continue on Friday (29 October). The remaining 14 participants in the organiser category will be interviewed in two sessions.
The organiser category refers to people who actively sort and process waste and encourage others in their communities to do the same.