Reducing Waste Volume: Cawang Optimises Organic Waste Processing
The East Jakarta City Government is providing full support to the Cawang Village initiative to optimise source-based waste management for both organic and inorganic waste. This effort aims to reduce the volume of waste sent to the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Treatment Site (TPST). “Waste management must begin at the source. What Cawang Village is doing is a positive step that can serve as an example for other regions in reducing waste volume while providing benefits to the environment and the community,” said the Mayor of East Jakarta, Munjirin, in Jakarta on Saturday.
One concrete step involves optimising organic waste processing within the village office environment through a programme that converts dry leaves into compost, involving the Public Infrastructure and Facilities Service (PPSU) officers. This programme is part of the implementation of source-based waste management policies currently being promoted by the Jakarta Provincial Government. Through these efforts, Cawang Village is not only focusing on waste reduction but also encouraging the repurposing of waste into products of environmental value.
“We process organic waste, such as dry leaves collected by PPSU officers in the area, into compost. This waste also originates from the residents of Cawang Village themselves,” said Gia. In its implementation, three PPSU officers routinely collect dry leaves from the Cawang area and the village office premises. These leaves are then processed through composting stages to produce fertiliser ready for use in supporting greenery and plant maintenance around the village office.
In addition to focusing on organic waste, Cawang Village is also implementing a strict sorting system for inorganic waste. Various types of inorganic waste, including packaging from meetings and office activities, are separated by category to ensure more effective management and to prevent mixing with organic waste. This step is part of an effort to build a culture of more responsible waste management within the government environment. By sorting from the outset, Gia noted, the potential for recycling and repurposing waste increases, thereby reducing the amount of waste that must be sent to final processing sites.
Through specific fermentation processes, organic waste is transformed into products that can be utilised for various environmental cleanliness and maintenance needs. “All the results of our processing will be used specifically within the Cawang Village Office area,” Gia added. The waste management programme at the Cawang Village Office involves various stakeholders, including residents, PPSU officers, and Civil Servants (ASN). The Civil Servants also play a role in monitoring and supervising the programme to ensure it runs maximally and sustainably. Gia hopes this programme can serve as a model to be implemented widely across every neighbourhood unit (RW). If all areas are able to manage waste from the source, the volume of waste sent to the Bantar Gebang TPST can be gradually reduced.