One House, One Waste Shredder: Society as Active Citizens
Indonesia is currently experiencing a quite alarming waste crisis. According to data from the Ministry of Environment, through the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), Indonesia generates tens of millions of tonnes of waste per year, comprising 40.59% food waste, 20.56% plastic waste, 13.23% wood/branches, 11.36% paper, with sources including 56.9% households, 13.3% markets, and 6.14%-14.00% others. Household organic waste is the most dominant. So far, handling the waste problem has only focused on transporting and piling it into Final Disposal Sites (TPA) that are arguably overcapacity, such as the Bantar Gebang landfill.
To create a transformative policy, we must shift waste management directly to the source through the “One House, One Waste Shredder” movement. The idea of providing a waste disposal unit or portable shredder in every home is becoming a crucial and urgent infrastructure need. For organic waste, a shredder integrated with a kitchen sink or a portable composter bin can instantly grind food scraps into small particles that decompose easily or are ready to be processed into fertiliser.
Instantly, the tool can cut nearly half the volume of waste that must be transported by trucks daily. Meanwhile, for inorganic waste, the existence of household-scale plastic shredders or community-level units at the neighbourhood level can turn plastic waste or packaging into ready-to-mould flakes. This not only creates a recycling supply chain but also provides direct economic value for the community, equivalent to a waste bank. When waste is destroyed upstream, we automatically stop the foul smell of rubbish outdoors or on the streets and eliminate the practice of open waste burning in residential areas that can poison the air.
Every idea poured into a transformative policy certainly has challenges. The biggest challenges are procurement costs and public education. If the government can provide subsidies or allocate landfill infrastructure budgets for procuring home-based or neighbourhood-scale local machines, this will be an efficient long-term investment in tackling the waste problem. This policy must also be supported by strict regulations, such as a gubernatorial decree or regional regulation requiring independent sorting and processing to address the waste issue. This regulation must be firmer, possibly by imposing sanctions or fines and providing a stamp on every house that implements the policy as a law-abiding citizen and practitioner of Clean and Healthy Living Behaviour (PHBS).
In conclusion, tackling the environmental crisis, especially the waste problem, can no longer rely solely on conventional downstream methods. The “One House, One Waste Shredder” initiative offers a cultural and structural revolution, transforming society into direct implementers and solution providers (active citizens). By destroying waste from the kitchen, we also participate in efforts to love the earth. Moreover, we have built ecological conservation starting from the smallest sphere, which is from our own homes.