Waste is a problem that still cannot be resolved properly. Various attempts were made to untangle the tangled threads of the problem, but it still could not be completely resolved properly. Piles of garbage are still piling up in Landfills in some cities. This happens because people's behavior has not completely changed. Still mixing up organic and anorganic waste. Or even littering.
The thorny problem is felt in the handling of organic waste. The remnants of food that are not managed properly, in the end cause a very pungent stench. The latest data shows that Indonesia is the second largest producer of food waste in the world. The loss reached Rp.551 trillion per year.
Organic waste so far has not been managed properly. It just dumped it up to the landfill. No wonder that in turn caused disaster. Like the landslide disaster occurred at the Leuwigajah landfill that killed hundreds of people in 2005. Seeing these conditions, the team of the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force, Bogor City, tried to overcome this problem.
Organic waste produced by residents living along the banks of the Ciliwung River, is well managed. Used as maggot feed, put into biopore holes and even produced into liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC). Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force activist M. Fahrozi Al-Faisin said it could also be used as a POC. If it is collected and has separated from inorganic waste, it can be processed into liquid fertilizer. "Liquid organic fertilizer has many advantages when compared to solid compost. Liquid compost is more quickly absorbed into the soil and absorbed by plants, and is more practical to use," said the man who is familiarly called Oji in a discussion event in Bogor, Tuesday (29/11/22).
Furthermore, Oji said, POC is very useful for fertilizing plants, improving structure while increasing soil nutrients. Also increases the absorbability of water in the soil. It can even create new economic opportunities.
"The tools needed to produce POC are also very simple. We only need scales, buckets or containers of organic waste, composter buckets, organic waste, probiotic molasses and bottles to pack POC," he said.
Oji said that the organic waste collected is then fermented using probiotics that have been mixed with molasses. In the process, the mixture should be stirred periodically once every three days. After 14 days then drain the liquid and transfer it to gallons and then close tightly. The gallon lid is then opened periodically to remove the fermented gas.
"After a two-month fermentation process, the liquid is ready to be harvested using a sieve and can then be used. After that, we can pack it and it is ready to be marketed," he said.
Bujang Slamet, also an activist of the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force, said that the POC production carried out by his party was a strategic step to implement the circular economy concept.
Some time ago, the leaders of each working area of the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force, participated in a circular economy training organized by the PPM School of Management. The activity was held at the initiation of the PSC (Plastic Smart Cities) program, a global movement initiated by WWF.
In addition to the Task Force, several other participants who participated in the activity were waste bank managers, TPS3R and other parties who were concerned about waste issues. The purpose of such activities is to create business opportunities from waste which has been seen as a big problem.
"During the training, we were trained on how to develop the economic potential according to those in our work area. In essence we have to work to change the concept of liner economy to circular. So far, if we use the economic concept of a liner, we buy products, use them, and then throw them away. But with a circular economy, the concept is to extend the service life of the product," he explained.
The business idea of producing POC initiated by the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force team, then obtained the fourth best title. Bujang admitted that the title he won made his colleagues in the Task Force team more excited.
"But of course we also have to map out the concept of this business idea well so that the circular economy runs smoothly. We have mapped important partners, activities, resources, product uniqueness values, relationships with customers, marketing media, target markets, financing structures, revenue and others," he explained. For important partners, continued Bujang, the parties who will be involved in the business model include cleaners, people in priority RTs, administrators in the local area, and related agencies. Not only producing POCs, it will also do other things to support its business model. Among them are education, assistance and training to the surrounding community.
"We will maximize the resource potential of the cleaners, the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force and the communities in our assisted priority RT," he said.
POC, he said, is very helpful in efforts to take advantage of waste that has been disposed of and pollutes nature. It also promotes a lifestyle of caring for the environment, empowering the community, fertilizing the soil and nourishing plants, and not polluting the soil because it is made of organic. According to him, the main targets of this business are groups of farming communities and people who have concerns about environmental issues.
"In carrying out this business model we will maintain good relationships with customers. Guarantees product quality, gives guarantees, as well as gives interesting choices about the purchase of products. Meanwhile, the marketing media will use social media, word of mouth, and cooperate with related institutions," he said.
Intan Slipia from WWF Indonesia, who oversees the PSC program, said that when the circular economy training was carried out, the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force team looked very enthusiastic. Did not miss a single training session. The training event is indeed held once a week for three months.
"The business model that has been created by the friends of the Task Force can be realized in each of its regions. The hope is that when the business model has been implemented, other Task Force friends can also participate in similar training in the future. To also be able to develop other business models to support the circular economy in the future," he said. He hopes that the performance of the Ciliwung River Naturalization Task Force will continue to develop well. Also the concept of the developed business model can run smoothly.
"The task force friends in each of their work areas have different waste processing. The results of the training with PPM School of Management yesterday can be shared with other friends. So that it can take advantage of the theories that were obtained yesterday. Because the challenge is going forward. It wasn't just yesterday during training," he said.***
