ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
Globally there is an increased consumption of disposable goods, which makes
solid waste management and its associated environmental pollution
ever-increasing problems in our world today. The norm in Indonesia is to dispose
of rubbish in vacant lots and in waterways. Often this garbage is then burned
slowly, usually along with yard waste. Clearly there is great need in the city
of Yogyakarta and its surrounding area for environmental clean up and an
effective waste reduction program.
After organizing an initial river clean up during the month of December 2006,
it became clear that the extent of the solid waste problem in Yogyakarta is
immense, and much must be done to improve environmental conditions in the
area.
Rumah Teman organized a month long river clean-up project
from 27 November to 23 December 2006. Together with volunteers and local
residents, an effort was made to clean some waterways in the northern area of
Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Support was great. From this endeavor, we learned the extent of the rubbish
situation in Yogyakarta, and that by just cleaning an area one or two times is
not enough to solve or to stop the problem. Having learnt how to organize a
cleaning event and also how to go about the actual cleaning of the rivers and
surrounding land, we decided to start a Recycling Project to improve
environmental conditions in the area. The idea is a combination of cleaning the
rivers and land, sorting and recycling rubbish, and providing people with
jobs.
SUNGAI BERSIH SEHAT INDAH
(Clean, Beautiful Healthy River)
Rumah Teman placed a team of 10 workers to clean the largest
river in Yogyakarta, which starts in the borough of Kaliurang (a high elevation
tourist location). On the four Sundays during the month of December 2006, a team
of 25 volunteers assisted in the clean up.
Besides the main activity of cleaning up the river, what was also important
was to make the local residents and visiting tourist aware of solid waste
pollution in the area. Raising consciousness that garbage belongs in the dustbin
and not in the river.
AIR UNTUK KEHIDUPAN
(Water for Live)
In cooperation with the Indonesian-French Institute (LIP: Lembaga Indonesia
Prancis), Rumah Teman continued the river clean up action
(see above) during the month of May 2007. This effort was
larger, consisting of 80 volunteers, many of them students. Sponsorship of this
action was Yogyakarta based.
RECYCLING PROJECT
As a result of the river cleaning projects, Rumah
Teman created a recycling project. The goal of this
project is to reduce the disposal of rubbish in the rivers,
rodways and empty lots, and also to stop burning of waste.
As an alternative to these more common, environmentally degrading waste
disposal practices, Rumah Teman provides garbage pickup in some
areas of the city at an affordable price. Rumah Teman collects
the rubbish and brings it to a plot of land that has been rented as a place to
sort and clean recyclable waste. (In Indonesia it is actually not an uncommon
activity for people to sort through waste dumps and polluted waterways for
reusable and recycable materials.) These waste products are then sold to a
factory that will recycle or reuse the materials. Those people working at the
rubbish collection/sorting location were previously unemployed and possibly
homeless.
Another result of this waste collection program is the making of bags and
other items from a particular kind of plastic that can not be recycled by the
factories. The money from these products is used to further support the
recycling project. Orders can be made via email by contacting rumah_teman_yogya@yahoo.com
Author : Joan Scanlan
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