or most people, piles of inorganic waste such as plastic bottles, cans and straws will probably only end up in the trash. However, this is different for Salbiawati Salim. In her hands, inorganic waste is transformed into economically valuable goods.
Assisted by PNM Makassar City, Salbia is a successful recycling hero, creating various products ranging from flower decorations and bags to a variety of pieces of furniture.
A PNM Mekaar customer since 2019, she saw the potential of a craft business with promising revenue. Moreover, obtaining the raw materials she wanted to use was not difficult for the Mount Lantimojong resident.
Salbia actively manages the waste bank in the area where she lives. “I acquire used goods from members of the waste bank, while the capital I received from PNM was used to buy complementary materials to make the crafts,” she said.
Salvia’s waste recycling efforts have also bore fruit. Her handiworks, such as handmade costumes made from recycled materials, are often sought after by the public to celebrate holidays such as Makassar City Anniversary and Independence Day.
Thanks to word-of-mouth promotions with the help of her family, Salbia’s customers are not only from Ujung Pandang, but also from other cities.
"Alhamdulillah (thanks to God), my family really supports my business, and they also help me to promote it to their friends and neighbors. I believe this is a blessing for my good intentions to protect the environment too," she added.
The revenue from recycled products, along with the financing capital provided by PNM now adds to the list of businesses that Salbia runs. In addition to making products from waste, she now also sells pastries and has opened a simple stall at her home.
"My business is still on a home-based scale, but now there are two people who help make cakes along with two resellers," she added. This is proof that PNM Mekaar customers who are persistent can certainly succeed in opening up job opportunities for themselves and jobs for others.
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