Stop the plastic flood: From waste collection to recycling
When the floods receded after the 2018 tsunami, the plastic problem in Sulawesi became even more apparent than before. Plastic carpets spread across the landscape, and the region's waste system was also destroyed. As many people had lost not only their homes but also their jobs, Help and the local partner organisation developed a holistic strategy to help people and the environment at the same time.
We founded eight so-called "Bank Sampah", i.e. waste banks where people can exchange their plastic waste for a small amount of money. The waste is then resold or recycled directly. Over 3 tonnes of plastic waste and over 3 tonnes of other waste (e.g. paper) have already been collected through the waste banks. In addition, 104 jobs have been created, thanks to which people now have a regular income.
In addition, we have sensitised the public, especially schools, to plastic pollution and informed them about recycling measures and plastic alternatives, for example bamboo drinking straws or cloth bags. We worked together with local school and environmental authorities and were able to inform over 5,000 children at 16 schools about the plastic problem. We reached around 1.5 million people in Indonesia through online campaigns.