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Yeni Mulyani: Banking on trash
Yeni MulyaniOne booth stood in stark contrast to other participants at a recent exhibition on energy industry, mainly because it didnât offer state-of-the-art technology
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Yeni Mulyani
One booth stood in stark contrast to other participants at a recent exhibition on energy industry, mainly because it didn't offer state-of-the-art technology.
Bank Sampah My Darling, a trash bank system located in Setiabudi, South Jakarta, proudly exhibited house utensils made of recycled garbage, inviting the curiosity of many visitors and other participants at the JIExpo Kemayoran venue in Central Jakarta.
'I'm not here to sell the goods. My main purpose is for everyone to see where the trash ends up and that could give them the idea to make theirs into something good and useful,' said the founder of the trash bank, Yeni Mulyani.
The trash bank, the name for which originates from the words Masyarakat Sadar Lingkungan (Society Aware of Environmental Issues), was founded in 2012 and last year became a beneficiary of state-owned electricity company PLN's corporate social responsibility program.
The new status allowed the micro organization to take part in many events, including the Electric, Power and Renewable Energy Indonesia exhibition last week.
'I'm involved in many events and workshops on waste recycling as one of the speakers in many cities in the country and even overseas to educate as many people as possible about the grim facts of waste issues.'
A Jakartan who was born on Dec. 20, 1970, Yeni became concerned about people's littering habits and later developed her own habit of picking up their garbage after them.
The group of housewives in her neighborhood often provided lunch boxes using plastic spoons and forks. Yeni asked them not to throw away the eating utensils but give them to her instead so she could make them into desk lamps for free.
'People tend to become defensive when being told off. I have to show, not tell, them how valuable their garbage can be.'
Currently Yeni is focusing on giving new life to discarded newspapers and plastic bags, making them into fashion items such as vest, hats, bangles, earrings and necklaces, as well as women's bags.
She said she used The Jakarta Post for some items 'because the paper is smooth and gives a better texture'.
Buyers of her products include celebrities and the wives of House of Representatives members.
'People say I dress up like a crazy person, wearing garbage on me. But if I want people to listen to me, they have to look at me first,' said the mother of one, who has also helped developing seven trash banks as a consultant.
Yeni, who is a graduate of banking institute STIE Perbanas, is often seen roaming around the elite Menteng neighborhood in Central Jakarta on a modified bicycle to pick up trash by appointment.
'People give me their garbage and order some souvenirs for their friends overseas from me. Through them, the things I made in my garage have been used in Singapore, the Netherlands, the United States and Australia,' she said.
'I don't mind if my creations are imitated. The more people involved in achieving a zero-waste Jakarta, the better.'
' Photos by Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak
