CLEAR has started a village assistance program in Kabupaten Pangandaran, an area with 93 villages on the southern coast of West Java, Indonesia. The program will generate a new wave of Waste Champions. They will be instrumental in establishing village Waste Banks and start sorting waste, recycling, building permaculture gardens, and implementing other waste management practices.
Waste Banks have proved successful in many villages, reducing waste, increasing recycling, and generating income. However, many villages do not know how to establish them. Following on from the success of the CLEAR’s Batukaras Waste Bank, we are now helping other villages in the region.
Village surveys
CLEAR is currently working with four villages: Kalenwadas, Bangunkarya, Ciparanti, and Wonoharjo. To properly assess their needs, a survey was taken in each to determine people’s attitudes towards waste and knowledge about Waste Banks. The results showed that most people in the four villages still considered waste as something without value: dirty, smelly, and bad. However, they are interested in sending rubbish to the Waste Bank if there’s an economic value.
Training
Waste Bank management training has started in all four villages. This program provides an overview of the problems and potential of waste then shows the community how to set up a Waste Bank.
Kalenwadas village
Kalenwadas started the Waste Bank but their activities were delayed by Covid-19 restrictions. CLEAR has provided Waste Bank training including procedures for sorting waste and making compost. They plan to use the compost in community gardens that will support food security.
At their Waste Bank weighing meeting in June, CLEAR held a workshop for their customers on how to make compost at home. The workshop went well. It was interactive and packed with easy-to-understand, practical concepts. At the end of the activity, CLEAR gave compost starters to customers to help them start managing organic waste at hom
Bangunkarya Village
This agro-tourism village has long wanted waste-management assistance because tourists are disturbed by the presence of
rubbish. CLEAR is helping the community by spreading awareness of the problems of pollution and possible solutions throughout the community. Bangunkarya has established a Waste Bank. They are now learning how to weigh and record waste. They have also made a waste information notice from used wooden boards. All of the sorted rubbish will be sold to a local trader. At the first measuring, the Waste Bank managed to collect about 44 kg of inorganic waste. The weighing is carried out at a strategic point that can be reached by the whole community. The weighing went smoothly and was attended by 16 enthusiastic customers.
Wonoharjo Village
CLEAR was invited to Wonoharjo Village by PPLS: Pemuda Peduli Lingkungan Sehat. Established in 2018, PPLS is a youth organisation that cares for the environment.
The presentation was warmly received and the village wants to establish a Waste Bank. Rubbish has increasingly become a problem in Wonoharjo as more village rubbish disposal pits fill up and fewer and fewer are available.
Ciparanti Village
Ciparanti Village is located near the beach. The majority of people complain about the increasing amount of rubbish in their neighborhood. A villager named Kang Asep decided to take action to solve this problem. He started promoting environmental awareness and currently has seven people in his team. Ciparanti village is in an area that already has a rubbish collection fleet that is used to facilitate waste disposal. They already use organic waste to produce maggots (Black Soldier Fly) for livestock and agriculture. They asked CLEAR to help educate the public to start sorting the rubbish at home so that the Waste Bank is more effective and efficient.
Supporting CLEAR
CLEAR Community is providing mentoring for villagers who are starting to care about the environment. By supporting them and sharing skills and knowledge we can promote effective action to tackle pollution and environmental challenges throughout the region. Even a small regular donation can make a big difference. Sign up now.
