Why not recycle leftovers for reuse?

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

Recycled plastic and paper has been around for awhile now, but ever heard of recycled food? Environmental activist Sari is among those who believe that leftovers should be eaten.

"This drink is made from fermented rice mixed with coconut meat, water, and a pandanus leaf for flavor. It is boiled down before it is served," Sari said, as she offered the drink to participants of an informal gathering of environmentalists at Banjarsari hamlet in Cilandak Barat subdistrict, South Jakarta.

There were at least three dishes on the menu that day made from leftovers.

Some participants were amazed at her explanation of the other dishes.

"When you eat bread for breakfast, you can't always finish it. Just collect the crusts and other scraps and mix them with yeast. After a few days you can add vegetables to the mixture," she explained.

Even the soft white flesh under watermelon rind can be made into a meal, Sari said, adding that the tough green rind could be used for compost.

While some may turn their noses up at food comprised of leftovers, surprisingly, several participants came back with empty cups and plates for more.

"It tastes good", was the general verdict.

Environmentalist Nuning Wirjoatmodjo said that the idea behind the recycled food was to change people's mind set about waste and leftovers.

"Waste and leftovers are something that we can reuse. Of course, we must process them to make them more appetizing," said Nuning, who is also a senior program assistant with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (Unesco) Jakarta office.

The meeting, which was attended by around 50 participants, including representatives of various governmental and non- governmental organizations, students, and even scavengers, was held to discuss ways to improve people's awareness of recycling.

Aside from the recycled food, other environmentalists exhibited recycled products, such as traditional puppets made from old cardboard, ornamental trash cans and the like.

"You must be creative to find ways to turn waste into products that have a higher economic value," said Slamet Riyadi, who has been helping around 32 senior citizens and widows to make a living through transforming used aluminum foil into products, like wallets, bags, slippers, vases, mats and sajadah (prayer mats).

Slamet said that the project earned about Rp 15 million to Rp 20 million monthly, most of which was given to the senior citizens and widows.

Waste expert of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology Sri Bebassari, said that everyone could help to reduce the city's garbage, which has reached 6,500 tons daily.

"Technology is just an instrument. It will not help much unless the people change their habit. They must stop disposing of waste haphazardly and start to treat it, through recycling activities, for instance" Sri said.

Of course, such efforts may face opposition, as society -- as termed by noted French sociologist Jean Baudrillard -- is still very much a "throw-away society".

"But, at least by doing that (recycling and reducing waste) at home, we are saving the planet for our children and our grandchildren," another environmentalist, Harini Bambang, said.