More used paper collectors needed

JAKARTA (JP): Aikon magazine, which specializes in advertising events and programs in the country's big cities, is inviting used paper collectors to cooperate in the used paper collection business.

The magazine's spokeswoman, Ukke Kosasih, said Wednesday that cooperation of partners was needed in order to collect the increasing volume of used paper from both offices and households in the city.

Quoting a survey stating that the volume of used paper in the city reached 695.5 tons per day, Ukke said that the magazine received a tremendous response from companies over its initiative to collect used paper from them for recycling.

The companies mostly agreed to donate used paper that they no longer needed, she said.

She said the magazine had volunteered in the collection of used paper, to be sold for recycling. "The funds from sales will be used to finance the organization of a cultural show at the Jakarta Playhouse next month," she said.

"We once realized that Aikon's office could not accommodate tons of used paper thrown away by a company on Jl. Sudirman," she said at a meeting with media and groups of environmentalists.

She also said the magazine would launch a Paper Week campaign starting June 29. The campaign program includes providing information on paper collecting, a recycling demo and a bazaar at the Jakarta Playhouse.

A study by a non-governmental organization, Kelompok Peduli Jakarta 1996, showed that new superblocks currently under construction in the Golden Triangle area (Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto and the Kuningan area) are projected to increase the volume of used paper by 40 percent.

Recycling was the best way to handle used paper, Ukke said.

By recycling one ton of paper, the country could save about 17 trees, she said.

"A piece of used paper can be recycled seven times, so don't throw solid waste away," she said. (03)