Malinau Regency Transforms Waste into a Sustainable Economic Resource
The Malinau Regency government in North Kalimantan is transforming waste management into a source of economic value for the community. This initiative is carried out through collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the community by establishing waste banks. Malinau Regent Wempi W. Mawa emphasised that waste management has become a regional priority, aligning with the regency’s commitment to creating a clean and sustainable environment. At least 10 waste banks have now been formed across various villages, demonstrating that mutual cooperation and innovation can turn waste into a blessing, from valuable plastic pellets to organic compost sought after by mining companies.
This movement is supported by robust regulations, including Law No. 18/2008 on Waste Management, which mandates a paradigm shift from end-of-pipe treatment to comprehensive upstream-downstream management, and Government Regulation No. 81/2012 on Household Waste Management. At the local level, the Regent issued Regulation No. 8/2026 on the Reduction of Single-Use Plastics, requiring businesses in shopping centres, shops, supermarkets, schools, and tourist sites to gradually reduce single-use plastics and provide eco-friendly alternatives, with administrative sanctions for violators. Village-level regulations, such as Paking Village Regulation No. 2/2025, also mandate households to separate organic and non-organic waste.
The private sector is actively involved, with PT Kayan Hydropower Nusantara (KHN) running a corporate social responsibility programme called KHN Lestari. The renewable energy company mentors two waste banks in villages supporting the Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Power Plant project. Stakeholder Management Manager Hambar Endro Prabowo stated that the programme, running since 2023, reflects the company’s long-term commitment to environmental conservation and community empowerment, providing training in waste sorting, ecobrick making, and organic compost production.
The Malinau Environmental Agency Head, John Felix Rundupadang, praised the synergy between companies and the community. A key driver is the Malinau Lestari Central Waste Bank (BSI), which has been operating since April 2023. Its unique concept allows residents to exchange one kilogram of plastic waste for Rp2,000 in cash. Public enthusiasm is high, with the bank collecting up to one tonne of plastic daily. Director Agus Supriyanto noted that dedicated collectors can earn between Rp800,000 and Rp1,500,000 per week, potentially surpassing a civil servant’s salary. The bank also receives plastic supplies from Tana Tidung and Nunukan regencies, recording sales of 11.2 tonnes of plastic pellets in 2024. Vice Regent Jakaria praised the waste bank as an effective incentive-based strategy to limit waste.
Organic waste is also managed seriously. The Sumber Makmur Waste Bank in Malinau Hilir Village produces compost sold to mining company CMS, the North Kalimantan Provincial Agriculture Office, and oil palm plantation communities. The village head’s wife received an award from the provincial government for her compost management efforts. In 2026, the KHN-assisted waste banks also plan to start producing and selling organic compost. Individual dedication has been recognised, with resident Yuliana receiving an award from the province in 2025 for making the most ecobricks. The Environmental Agency also held an Ecobrick Ambassador Festival in October 2024 to raise youth awareness about plastic waste management.