Denok Marty Astuti had a simple dream: to transform Solo, her hometown, into a clean, green, and waste-free city. In pursuit of this goal, she decided in 2015 to return to Solo from Jakarta, where she had worked for 12 years at a national company.

Her first step was to visit the Solo Class I Penitentiary to address its waste issues. Denok saw potential in waste management there. “I proposed the idea of processing food waste into compost and creating crafts from inorganic waste with the inmates,” Denok shared during a visit from Kompas.com at her home in Purwosari, Laweyan, Solo. The prison’s head welcomed her initiative, allowing Denok to empower inmates to craft items from newspaper waste and make compost from organic waste. Additionally, Denok advocated waste sorting with the environmental community group Gerakan Orang Muda Peduli Sampah dan Lingkungan Hidup Soloraya (Grophes) every Sunday during car-free day (CFD) on Jl Slamet Riyadi, Solo.

The First Waste Bank

Campaigning at CFD alone wasn’t enough. Denok and her Grophes colleagues decided to visit each neighborhood in Solo. Reactions varied, with some welcoming the idea and others indifferent. Their initial outreach focused on crafting from inorganic waste. Gradually, the concept of a waste bank emerged. “From there, we thought about establishing waste banks. Waste banks require sorted waste. Inorganic waste is collected, weighed, and processed for profit. Organic waste is turned into compost,” Denok explained. The first waste bank initiated by Grophes was set up in RW 13 Kelurahan Pucangsawit.

Following this success, the experience of managing waste banks spread by word of mouth. Denok focused on educating and initiating waste banks in other areas. Over eight years, 150 waste banks were established across Solo, each with its own name and varying from single RW to multiple RW units based on agreements among members and management. At the beginning of 2023, a central waste bank called Bank Sampah Induk Kerja Nyata was established to coordinate these units and expand to other areas, with Denok appointed as its director.

Challenges and Solutions

One challenge in developing waste banks is the availability of land. Waste banks need ample space for waste storage and transport. However, this was addressed by using existing spaces like neighborhood security posts as portable waste banks. “Solo lacks land, but we must move forward even without it. Waste can be deposited at various locations like the neighborhood head’s house, integrated health posts, or under a banyan tree,” Denok said. To tackle transportation issues, the waste bank network collaborates with waste collectors to pick up waste from the banks, usually operating bi-weekly for two hours.

During this period, members deposit sorted inorganic waste, which is weighed, valued, and recorded in the waste bank’s ledger. Waste types vary from plastic bottles and newspapers to glass bottles and metals. “The prices vary, from Rp 200 per kilo for glass bottles to Rp 16,000 per kilo for metals,” Denok said. Transactions from 150 waste banks average Rp 60 million to Rp 75 million per month.

Dedication

The success of the waste banks is due to dedicated volunteers and managers. Denok noted the enthusiasm of each unit’s staff and volunteers. “They are incredibly committed to managing the waste banks. There’s a hidden excitement,” Denok said. This enthusiasm needs to be maintained and passed on to future generations. Denok hopes to see more waste banks created to address waste issues at their source.

“Everyone must act because we don’t want a ticking time bomb of waste problems,” she added. Meanwhile, Arthaty Mulatsih, Head of the Waste and B3 Waste Management Division at Solo’s Environmental Office, stated that waste banks positively contribute to waste reduction efforts at the source. “Waste banks provide a platform for community waste management,” Arthaty said. She added that waste banks add value both in terms of circular economy and enhancing community skills and capabilities.

Author : Danur Lambang Pristiandaru