The Waste Bank in Narrow Alley

Soleha (36 yo) has myriad activities in serving the communities in Semper Barat Sub-District at Central Jakarta. She is the secretary of the Kenanga Waste Bank of RW 04 Semper Barat. Although her position is a Secretary of the Waste Bank, she also goes directly to the field to pick up the savings from each waste bank customer. And she does it using the bicycle. 

Bicycle becomes her weapon to reach the trash. Not only for exercise, but she also uses it to enter the narrow alley that can only be passed by bicycles or motorbikes. 

"I don't have a motorbike, so I use a bicycle, then I can enter the alley and exercise," she said with a laugh to Wahana Visi Indonesia’s staff. 

Even with a lot of activities, Soleha still knows her status, as a mother.  

“My friends and I are pick up the trash twice a week. We do that after lunch hour, so we can finish our duty as a Mom, such as cooking and assisting the children doing online school,” she explained.  

Her mind is full of energy to make a change for the environment, including changing the behavior of people. That is why she eagers to contribute a lot to Kenanga Waste Bank. Kenanga Waste Bank itself is a waste bank assisted by the Phinla project of Wahana Visi Indonesia. 

“I hope that with the existence of a waste bank, the community will no longer throw plastic waste or other waste anywhere. It also helps them to be smarter, taking advantage of the waste itself. Apart from protecting the environment, it also increases income," she said, which ended the conversation at that time.
 

Written by: Pedaman Halawa, Area Coord. PHINLA Project Wahana Visi Indonesia
Translated by: Klaudia Mawuntu, Intern of Wahana Visi Indonesia