Tips on recycling

Tips on recycling

In Jakarta there is no system of recycling household waste, in a
formal sense. An informal approach exists in the form of
scavengers who walk the streets pushing wooden carts searching
for reusable goods in people's household garbage, at garbage
dumps and at busy public places where people often throw empty
water bottles and cans onto the street.

Separating organic and nonorganic garbage and a simple sorting
of things you wish to discard will give added income to these
enterprising individuals and hopefully reduce household waste
that often ends up in Jakarta's waterways.

Keeping in mind the three guiding principles of "Reduce, Reuse
and Recycle," here are some tips for those who wish to recycle:

Newspapers and magazines
* Give to your local scavengers
* Give to vegetable sellers in the market for wrapping vegetables
* Crunch up sheets of newspaper into balls and dampen with water
to clean windows instead of using glass cleaner
* Give your old magazines to your local salon or leave them
behind in a taxi for someone else to read.

Cartons -- big and small
All cartons, whether cardboard boxes or packaging from the
supermarket, such as powdered milk, oatmeal, chocolate boxes,
breakfast cereal, etc., can be flattened out, folded and given to
scavengers. Size is not important, as these are sold per kilogram
and pulped to make cartons again.

Paper:
* For internal office communications, use paper that has already
been printed on one side. Keep a stack of this paper by the
photocopy machine to make sure both sides of the paper are used.
* When both sides are already used give this paper to your local
scavenger.
* Promote a policy in your office of using recycled paper and
envelopes for internal use. Send memos and reports via electronic
mail.
* Paper printed on both sides, old greeting cards, wall and desk
calendars etc. can all be given to scavengers.
* Line your drawers with paper from wall calendars

Plastic mineral water bottles
All sizes of plastic mineral water containers, even the one-glass
size, are sought after by scavengers. The latter can be used to
plant seedlings -- just make a small hole in the bottom for
drainage.

Plastic refill pouches
Plastic refill pouches for fabric softener, floor cleaner, liquid
soap, cooking oil etc. can to given to any of the organizations
listed in the box opposite R U sure it's opposite, not below? to
be sewn and transformed into durable, attractive tote bags as an
income-generating activity. Make sure you do not cut the corner
at too deep an angle. If you have time it will be appreciated if
these are washed and dried before handing them over.

Plastic bags
* Take your own carrier bags to the supermarket or traditional
market.
* Ask the vendor to wrap vegetables in newspaper instead of
plastic.
* Give your excess bags to vegetable vendors in your local
traditional market or vegetable vendors on the street.

Aluminum cans
Collect used aluminum drinks cans and give them to your local
scavenger. If you have many, crush them first to reduce space.

Take your plastic refill pouches to either of the following
organizations for recycling into beautiful tote bags, and at the
same time buy yourself a bag:

ICAC House
Jl. Bona Vista Raya
Lebak Bulus
Tel: 7581 6710
Contact person: Trisnur or Rosa

Yayasan Balita Sehat
Jl. Puri Sakti 1/23A
Cipete
Tel: 769 4923
Contact person: Asih Rahayu

XSProject
Jl. BDN I No. S6-S7
Cilandak Barat
Tel: 766 1337, 766 2311
Contact Person: Anne Wizer

-- Melinda A. Hewitt