PGN Builds Recycling Ecosystem, Two Months 871 Kg of Plastic Waste Processed into Products with Selling Value

JAKARTA - After building a plastic waste management system based on a circular economy in the company's environment, PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk (PGN), Subholding Gas Pertamina, is now expanding its impact by partnering with communities in the 1st ring of the company's operating area through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program. This program not only increases the capacity of waste processing, especially plastic waste, but also prepares a market for recycled products to create sustainable economic benefits.

The program is carried out in collaboration with the Cilegon City Government, Kertabumi Recycling Center, National Geographic Indonesia, and the Al-Bustaniyah Cilegon Waste Bank to strengthen the waste management value chain, from processing to marketing products.

As a form of support, PGN handed over shredders, extruder machines, cold presses, scroll and table saws, as well as ovens to the Al-Bustaniyah Waste Bank. This assistance is expected to increase production capacity, product quality, as well as expand business opportunities based on circular economy.

In the last two months, the Nusantara Green House Program has managed to process 871 kilograms of plastic waste into various value-added products, such as furniture, tissue holders, key chains, prayer beads, and other recycled products.

Head of the Cilegon City Environment Service, Sabri Malyudin, appreciated the collaboration built by PGN. According to him, the challenge of waste management lies not only in providing facilities, but also in forming a culture of environmental care.

"In waste management, the development of the circular economy needs to be followed by the strengthening of downstream processing so that the products from waste processing have a sustainable market," he said, Wednesday, July 29.

Sabri added that in the future, what needs to be strengthened is the aspect of downstream processing. The products from waste processing must have a market so as to provide added value for the community. He saw the opportunity for collaboration with the Cooperative Service to expand the marketing of products, including through various exhibitions and regional activities.

He hopes that the Nusantara Green House Program will continue to be developed so that it can provide wider benefits for the people of Cilegon City.

"We appreciate PGN's support through the Nusantara Green House Program and hope that this program can continue, be nurtured, and developed so that it provides increasingly broad benefits for the people of Cilegon City," he added.

PGN CSR Division Head, Krisdyan Widagdo Adhi, said this program is a continuation of PGN's various initiatives in building a waste management ecosystem based on a circular economy.

"Through this program, PGN wants to show that waste is no longer seen as waste, but a resource that has economic value if properly managed. This initiative is also part of the company's commitment to encouraging a community-based circular economy," he said.

According to Krisdyan, the success of waste management is determined by the creation of an ecosystem that is able to maintain the sustainability of people's economic activities. Therefore, he hopes that this program does not stop at providing waste processing facilities, but is able to create an ecosystem with a multiplier impact for improving people's welfare.

"The products processed by the Al-Bustaniyah Waste Bank are expected to be utilized, including by PGN, so that an economic cycle is created that provides real benefits to the community," he explained.

In the future, PGN through the Nusantara Green House program will also act as an offtaker for some of the products processed by the Al-Bustaniyah Waste Bank through cooperation in supporting MSMEs and commercializing a wider market.

Meanwhile, the Editor in Chief of National Geographic Indonesia, Didi Kaspi Kasim, appreciates that this Green House program is running well and continues to grow. According to him, cross-sector collaboration is the key to presenting solutions to the problem of plastic waste.

"National Geographic Indonesia has always raised environmental issues, including waste issues. However, today we are not only talking about problems, but also presenting real solutions through collaboration between various parties," said Didi.

According to Didi, waste management will have a greater impact if it is carried out collaboratively and has economic value if properly managed. For this reason, he hopes that this program can continue to be developed and trigger similar programs so that it can be a solution in dealing with the problem of waste, which is currently still one of the issues in society.