Why not recycle leftovers for reuse?
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.