JAKARTA - The problem of plastic waste in coastal areas is still a challenge for the environment in various regions of Indonesia.
In addition to disturbing the marine ecosystem, the accumulation of garbage also has an impact on the activities of fishermen and the quality of life of the surrounding community. Therefore, sustainable waste management efforts are considered to require the involvement of various parties, ranging from the government, communities, to the private sector.
One of the activities carried out was a beach cleaning action in the coastal area of Sumberjaya Village, Sumur District, Pandeglang Regency, Banten.
The program entitled Nestlé Coastal Warriors involves a number of environmental communities such as the KEHATI Foundation, the SALAKA Foundation, Rhino Bahari, Lingkar Muda, Brigasspala SMAN 16 Pandeglang, and the UNTIRTA Biodiversity Warrior with a total of around 50 participants.
This activity was the first beach cleaning action held in the program as a response to the problem of garbage in the coastal area of Pandeglang, including garbage sent from the sea. The cleaning area is focused along the 350 meter coastline with a total of garbage that was successfully collected reaching around 250 kilograms.
The types of garbage found are quite diverse, ranging from organic waste, plastic, multilayer sachets, styrofoam, to fishing nets or ghost nets.
The collected waste is then sorted for further management. Plastic that still has economic value is channeled to recycling partners, while non-economic plastic waste such as multilayer sachets, LDPE, and PP is utilized through community-based training to be processed into other products such as paving blocks.
In addition to beach cleaning activities, this activity was also filled with education and capacity building for the community regarding sustainable waste management. The environmental community involved plays a role in mentoring, data collection, to education regarding the importance of sorting and processing waste.
"We believe that efforts to overcome waste challenges require collaboration across stakeholders and active community involvement. Through Nestlé Coastal Warriors, we want to present real actions that not only focus on cleaning, but also encourage behavioral changes and capacity building for communities in managing waste sustainably," explained Nestlé Indonesia Sustainability Manager Helenna Ariesty.
This effort is also in line with the company's ambition to achieve the company's Packaging Recovery and Recycling Plan, one of which is to ensure that the amount of plastic used is balanced with various support for absorption and re-management of various types of post-consumption packaging waste. This is to reduce waste ending up in landfills and waterways.
The program also received support from the Pandeglang Regency Fisheries Office. The Secretary of the Pandeglang Regency Fisheries Office, Onah, S.TP., MM., assessed that the problem of coastal waste needed to be addressed together because it had a direct impact on the environment and the activities of coastal communities.
"We welcome the initiative that presents real action in maintaining the cleanliness of coastal areas at Sumur Beach, Pandeglang. The problem of waste in coastal areas is a common challenge because it not only impacts the environment, but also on fishing activities and the welfare of coastal communities,"
"Through collaboration between the government, the private sector, environmental communities, and the community, we hope that efforts like this can increase collective awareness of the importance of responsible waste management while encouraging the creation of a cleaner, healthier, and sustainable coastal ecosystem," he said.
The same thing was also conveyed by the Manager of Corporate & Partnership of the KEHATI Foundation, Elvira P. Wongsosudiro. According to him, education and assistance to the community are an important part of building behavioral changes related to waste management.
"Programs like Nestlé Coastal Warriors are a good step in helping to address the waste problems that have been faced in the coastal areas of Pandeglang, as well as increasing public awareness of the importance of maintaining the environment. Collaborations like this provide space for the community to be directly involved in maintaining the environment while increasing understanding of responsible waste management. We see that education and mentoring are key in encouraging sustainable behavioral changes at the community level," he said.
Furthermore, similar programs are planned to be expanded to a number of other water areas as part of efforts to support waste reduction and more sustainable plastic management in Indonesia.
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