Banjarmasin Manages Recycling Waste Into Hand Crafts

The Mayor of Banjarmasin Muhammad Yamin while visiting the Cheerful Waste Bank in Central Banjarmasin District who managed to recycle waste into handicraft products, in Banjarmasin, Monday (28/4/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Waste management in Banjarmasin is now showing new innovations. The Cheerful Waste Bank in Central Banjarmasin District has succeeded in converting waste into various creative handicraft products, such as bags, ornamental flowers, and various other works of art that have a selling value.

The Mayor of Banjarmasin, Muhammad Yamin, expressed his appreciation for the breakthrough. According to him, this innovative step is a concrete effort in overcoming the waste emergency conditions that are being faced by the city.

"This garbage bank is extraordinary, its innovation is a real solution to reduce waste accumulation in our city," he said while attending halal bihalal and silaturahim activities in Central Banjarmasin District, Monday, April 28, 2025, as quoted by ANTARA.

Accompanied by the Chairman of PKK Neli Listriani and the Regional Secretary of Banjarmasin City Ikhsan Budiman, Yamin directly inspected various recycled products on display. He saw great potential from the management of this creative economy-based waste.

During his visit, Yamin emphasized that the initiative of a Cheerful Waste Bank such as the use of mini-cash machines to process waste is like an example for other sub-districts and sub-districts in Banjarmasin. "We appreciate the efforts of the sub-district head and all ranks. Mini-cash machines and various creative products show extraordinary enthusiasm. We must transmit this spirit throughout the region," he said.

He highlighted the importance of innovation in managing waste into useful products, especially in current waste emergency situations.

"This kind of creative idea really helps reduce the burden on garbage in our city," he continued.

In addition, the Mayor also emphasized the importance of residents' awareness to sort waste from home. According to him, the active involvement of the community in sorting and managing waste will be the key to the success of environmental management in Banjarmasin. "If we all start sorting from home, then the volume of waste can be significantly reduced. This requires close collaboration between the government and the community," he said.

Meanwhile, a member of the Banjarmasin City DPRD, Hari Kartono, said that the efforts of the Banjarmasin City Government in dealing with waste emergencys, especially since the closure of the Basirih TPAS by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment as of February 1, 2025, have shown positive results.

According to Kartono, the movement to sort waste from sources has begun to be carried out in all urban villages, including through the active roles of waste banks such as Happy Waste Bank.

"Currently, Banjarmasin has more than 300 waste banks. If everyone implements innovations like what Bank Sampah Berhagia did, I am sure that the waste problem in this city can be resolved immediately," he said optimistically.