Waste Mangement: Tips from Rumah Edukasi Pilah Sampah

TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Waste management remains one of Indonesia’s biggest concerns. As waste volume increases, landfills (TPA) often face overcapacity, leading to issues such as landslides.

Amidst these challenges, some movements offer simple yet impactful solutions, one of which is waste sorting. Rumah Edukasi Komunitas Pilah Sampah aims to raise awareness in communities about the importance of environmental care by starting small—sorting waste at its primary source.

Advertisement

The Rumah Edukasi Komunitas Pilah Sampah

Rumah Edukasi Pilah Sampah is located in Cilenggang, South Tangerang. Febty Febrianti, one of the founders, recounted the beginnings of this community.

"Rumah Edukasi Pilah Sampah was established around June 2020. It started with Nadia, who often invites those local housewifes in our neighborhood to deposit inorganic waste,” Febty said.

Today, Rumah Edukasi Komunitas Pilah Sampah not only serves as a channel for the collection of inorganic waste, but has also become an education center. The community actively conducts educational sessions in schools, local gatherings and even companies.

For schools, they use interactive methods such as educational card games and crafts with waste materials to foster a new sense of environmental responsibility among the students.

Steps to Sort Waste at Home

According to Febty, sorting the waste from its primary source whether from home, school, or in a business officeis crucial. "When waste is sorted from its main source, the amount going to the landfill is significantly reduced," she explained.

Separating waste at home is not complicated, but it needs to be done properly. Febty explained that inorganic waste falls into several categories, including plastic bottles, plastic bags, cardboard, paper, polystyrene and tetra-pack packaging.

The Three Main Steps

Before the sorting step, the waste should be clean and dry. "The three main principles of sorting waste at home are: clean, dry and sort them by type," explained Febty.

Cleaning waste materials before sorting them is an essential first step to ensure recyclability. Food residues, oils, or other contaminants on items can spoil recyclable materials, making it difficult for recycling centers to process them.

For example, washing out a plastic bottle or rinsing a food container helps keep them clean and ready for recycling.

After cleaning, drying the materials is equally important. Moisture can lead to mold growth, which can render paper or cardboard unrecyclable, as well as degrade other types of waste.

Keeping waste dry also maintains a sanitary environment and prevents unpleasant odors. It makes the sorting process more convenient at home.

Sorting waste by type means categorizing it based on its material such as plastics, metals, paper, or glass. This separation is beneficial because it simplifies the recycling process at facilities that handle specific types of materials.

For example, sorting plastic bottles separately from cardboard allows each type to be processed according to its recycling requirements. It ultimately increases recycling efficiency.

Using the clean, dry, and type method not only supports environmental sustainability but also ensures that recyclables retain their quality. It makes them more likely to be reused effectively.

This simple process maximizes the chances that recyclable items will actually be recycled. It also reducing the overall waste in landfills and contributing to a more sustainable waste management system.

For the Earth

Febty also emphasized that raising awareness of waste separation isn't just about cleanliness, it's about taking care of the earth we live on. "We only have one earth. If we don't take care of it, it will become an uncomfortable place to live," she said.

She encouraged people to imagine a clean environment, fresh air and clear water, similar to what they often see when traveling abroad. 

A small step like sorting waste at home can have a big impact on the environment. By starting sorting waste  at the source, we can create a cleaner environment, fresh air and a more comfortable place to live for future generations

Pewarta: Rara Nabila Azzahra

**) Ikuti berita terbaru TIMES Indonesia di Google News klik link ini dan jangan lupa di follow.