As an effort to reduce plastic waste, Berkah Waste Bank (BSB) in Tugu Selatan Urban Village, Koja, North Jakarta has collected 12,585.5 kilograms or about 12.6 tons of waste from June 2019 to December 2020. From that amount, this waste bank has collected 5,818 kilograms of plastic waste.

Tugu Selatan BSB wants to make Tugu Selatan Urban Village into plastic waste-free area

Tugu Selatan Urban Village Head, Sukarmin mentioned, its customers (waste collectors) was only 74 people from the beginning of its establishment in November 2018. But now, it reached 184 customers.

"In the second week of each month, the collected waste is weighed and sold in Sunter. Apart from plastic waste, used cardboard, and junk goods, we also aim to collect used cooking oil," he explained, Tuesday (2/2).

Supports from various parties, such as private sector (Pertamina Lubricant), RT/RW administrators, and residents also played an important role in realizing Tugu Selatan BSB as a barometer of cleanliness in Tugu Selatan Urban Village.

"We also empower unemployed people to work in BSB by providing weekly salary," he added.

There were number of innovations made by Tugu Selatan BSB. Among them are recycling empty oil drums into sofas, exchanging plastic waste with motor oil for motorbikes, and so on.

"Tugu Selatan BSB wants to make Tugu Selatan Urban Village into plastic waste-free area in order to realize a clean environment," he asserted.

From the latest data in January 2021, Tugu Selatan BSB has collected total 1,371 kilograms of waste, consisting of plastic waste with total 851 kilograms.