Bogor 10 December 2024-In an effort to create a clean and sustainable environment, Rekam Nusantara Foundation, supported by WWF Indonesia through the Plastic Smart Cities program, held a public discussion that presented various local media. This event aims to share the achievements of plastic waste management at the Mekarwangi Plastic Waste Upcycling Facility, which is part of a joint commitment to overcome plastic waste problems in Bogor City.
The three-year Plastic Smart Cities program has shown significant results. Collaborating with the Bogor City Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force (Satgas) and the Bogor City Environment Agency. Active support from the community and the people of Bogor City is also an important factor in its success.
Bogor City is now an example of its success in community-based plastic waste management. Thanks to the hard work of the Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force of Bogor City in assisting residents in priority RTs in the last three years, around 400 tons of anorganic waste from 41 Priority RTs are no longer disposed of in the Ciliwung River. A total of 25 tons of plastic waste, especially low-value plastics such as plastic bags and plastic packaging, have been processed at Upcycling Mekarwangi.
The Bogor City Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force is the main driver in supporting changes in community behavior. They continuously provide assistance and education to people living in Priority Neighborhoods. Ensuring that there is no more illegal waste generation, dumping waste into the Ciliwung river, forming waste management, sorting waste, and also reducing single-use plastic consumption.
To continue the collaboration with the Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force and also the Bogor City Government, Rekam Nusantara Foundation has signed a cooperation with the Bogor City Government to run a waste management program in Bogor City. Through the Bogor City Environment Agency, Rekam Nusantara Foundation has been granted management licenses for Upcycling Mekarwangi and TPS3R Bantarkemang. Rekam Nusantara Foundation Urban and Sustainability Director Een Irawan Putra said that the collaboration of the parties in managing household waste in Bogor City is very important. “Based on our experience so far, collaboration in solving this household waste problem is very important to be realized. The division of roles, the support of competent personnel and the concern of residents so that they are willing to change their behavior are the keys to success in managing household waste,” he said.
Een is one of the figures who founded the Bogor Ciliwung Community (KPC) in 2009. In 2018, together with Bima Arya, the Mayor of Bogor for the 2014-2024 period (now Deputy Minister of Home Affairs) formed the Bogor City Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force. The formation of the Ciliwung Task Force is to enlarge the community movement in building awareness of the preservation of the Ciliwung river in Bogor City.
Plastic Waste to Support Water and Soil Conservation
To ensure the independence and sustainability of Upcycling Mekarwangi's operations, Rekam Nusantara Foundation built a partnership with a hydrological consulting company PT Jauhar Hidro Mekatron. Together with IPB University, this company developed the Bijak Berplastik (Biber) infiltration well. The product license for this infiltration well is held by IPB University.
Infiltration wells function to accommodate, store, and increase groundwater reserves and reduce surface runoff, thereby reducing the potential for flooding and drought. Plastic waste that has been causing flooding, river and sea water pollution, and can threaten the existence of animals in the sea now through Upcycling Mekarwangi products can support water and soil conservation. One package of Biber infiltration wells can effectively infiltrate up to 16 m³ of water in a day of rain. One Biber infiltration well package uses 150 kg of plastic waste.
President Director of PT Jauhar Hidro Mekatron Taufik Hidayat said that the collaboration with Rekam Nusantara Foundation and Bogor City Government is an opportunity to build a friendly and sustainable business ecosystem. “Imagine, all this time residents along the banks of the Ciliwung River have always thrown plastic waste that has no economic value into the Ciliwung River, now no one throws plastic waste into the river anymore. Instead of polluting rivers and oceans, people are invited to collect their plastic waste at home. We pick it up and bring it to Mekarwangi,” he said.
Upcycling Mekarwangi has a target of making two infiltration well packages per day. With a machine capacity of 800 kg per day, this is possible if the raw material or plastic waste is available. “With a capacity of 800 kg per day and 320 working days a year, we can make 640 infiltration ponds. This means we can process 96 tons of plastic waste per year. A total of 96 tons of plastic waste that we no longer throw into the Ciliwung River or into nature.
With 640 infiltration wells, it can store as much as 10,240 m³ of water if it rains one day.” said Een Irawan Putra.
Support from the Mayor of Bogor Elected by Quick Count Version
In the Recording the City podcast on November 9-10, 2024 held by Rekam Nusantara with the Bogor Mayor Candidates, Dedie Rachim-one of the Bogor Mayor Candidates appreciated environmental communities such as the Bogor City Ciliwung Naturalization Task Force which plays an important role in preserving the environment. Dedie, who was previously the Deputy Mayor of Bogor, also encouraged the construction of waste processing facilities (TPS3R) in each sub-district. In addition, he said communal septic tanks need to be built to reduce river water pollution. Waste is currently still a problem in the Bogor City community. “We already have experience with the Ciliwung Task Force. I am also concerned with the Cisadane river, because the Bogor City PDAM's water source also comes from the upstream of the Cisadane river. This also needs to be considered and worked on,” he said. Based on the results of the quick count of the Bogor Mayor election held on November 27, 2024, Dedie Rachim received the most votes at 37.67 percent.
Dedie believes that collaboration between government, community, and citizens is the key to realizing a comfortable and sustainable Bogor for future generations.
Head of Bogor City Environment Agency Deni Wismanto also agreed with Dedie Rachim. He said that the efforts that have been made are proof that the problem of plastic waste in Bogor City can be overcome with cooperation between the government, communities, and citizens. “With the active role of the community and society to encourage behavior change and sort waste from the source, it is very helpful for the Bogor City Government's efforts in solving various waste problems in Bogor City,” he said.
With the new government in 2025, it is expected that Bogor City will continue to move as a sustainable city where people and the environment can coexist harmoniously.
