Social Minister Risma To Build Garbage Bank On Buffer Island

Social Minister Risma with Deputy Governor of Riau Islands Marlin Agustina and Mayor of Batam Muhammad Rudi while reviewing the location on Bertam Island, Batam, Riau Islands. (ANTARA/Jude)

BATAM - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini cooperates with the alumni association of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to build a waste bank to convert plastic waste into fuel oil (BBM) on the buffer islands of Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri).

"We are working with ITB alumni to design this (waste bank), so we don't only pay attention to settlements, but all of them," said Risma during a visit to Bertam Island, Batam City, Riau Islands, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, June 7.

This was said by Risma after seeing the condition of the sea tribe living on Bertam Island, she saw that there was still a lot of garbage scattered there.

Risma wants areas such as Bertam Island to develop like areas in the city. Moreover, this area is directly opposite the neighboring country of Singapore.

"It's my job to work for underdeveloped, outermost and remote areas. I only handled housing problems at first, but then ITB alumni saw that this area could be developed. Don't see why it's so widespread, because if the development is later it can have positive (involvement) implications for the income of local residents," said Risma.

Therefore, with the presence of the ITB alumni, said Risma, they can help deal with problems not just the house, but also how the house is truly environmentally friendly and then its energy resources are fulfilled.

“With this comprehensive comprehensive ITB, once again I don't want this household domestic waste to enter the sea. But for the process of working on the waste bank, we need to make a place first so it doesn't get hit by the rain," said Risma.

The general chairman of the ITB alumni association, Gembong Primajaya, added that in the process of working on this waste bank, the first thing that was needed was an approach to the community.

"Because it can't be done suddenly, people must be educated slowly," he said.

Gembong said, the tool for converting plastic waste into fuel is already available and just waiting for its implementation.

“For the machine to convert waste into fuel, we already have it, we just need to bring it here from Java Island. The type of fuel from the waste bank will be in the form of gasoline,” said Gembong.