Waste Bank: Educating Children on Sorting Household Waste into Economic Value

The manager of Waste Bank Rahmat provided waste management education to kindergarten students at Waste Bank Persatuan, Jalan Persatuan RW 08, Pondok Kelapa, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on Monday (11/5/2026). This activity forms part of the support for the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government’s Waste Sorting Movement, which focuses on handling waste from the upstream source. During the event, the children were introduced to methods of sorting, managing, and utilising organic and inorganic waste from an early age. The education was conducted interactively to help students understand the importance of protecting the environment and reducing household waste. Not only serving as an educational venue, Waste Bank Persatuan also processes plastic waste into various economically valuable crafts. Plastic waste is turned into ornaments and home decorations that have market value. Established in 2019, Waste Bank Persatuan collaborates with housewives in the Pondok Kelapa area to produce crafts from recycled materials. This activity simultaneously opens up additional income opportunities for residents. Products from processed waste that are ready for sale are marketed at prices ranging from Rp30,000 to Rp125,000, depending on the type and complexity of the product. Founder of Waste Bank Persatuan, Rahmatullah (44), stated that the existence of the waste bank is a positive step towards creating a cleaner and greener residential environment. According to him, community-based waste management can also increase residents’ awareness of the importance of environmental protection while providing economic benefits.