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Teen solves e-waste problem one dead battery at a time
For Rafa Javar, it is never too late to spread awareness on e-waste.
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Illustration of electronic waste. (Shutterstock/ShutterPNPhotography)
T
he increased use of technology over the past few years has created another environmental problem when it comes to disposing of e-waste. While the subject of e-waste is not new in the country, people have only started taking more interest in it in recent years.
For Rafa Javar, it is never too late to spread awareness on e-waste. Known as RJ among his friends, the 15-year-old, who studies at Labschool Kebayoran, began taking part in environmentalism when he was very young.
When he attended Cikal Jakarta Elementary School, Rafa grew an interest in the subject of e-waste.
“It became a passion for me to collect electronic devices to make setups of computers in my house. For me, it was something cool to do and it was cool among my friends, until one of my electronics broke and I started wondering.
“Is there any effect that it brings to the environment? Where does this go? And if somebody picks it up in the trash, what will he do with the electronic waste?”
By the time he was 11 years old, he released his first book, called E-Waste: Sampah Elektronik (E-Waste: Electronic Trash) and established a drop box system throughout Jakarta. Anyone can use these drop boxes to dispose of their e-waste. The boxes are emptied by the organizations that he works with, the Jakarta Environmental Agency and PT Teknotama Lingkungan Internusa, which offer industrial waste management services.
“After the e-waste is collected, it is sorted. From there, it is broken down and separated further by material. Now that the electronics are broken down to their basic materials, the company can use the components to make more electronics or to sell to other companies. Finally, I receive a ‘Certificate of Destruction’, which acts as a list of things that were processed,” Rafa said.
Just recently, he released his second book, Sampah Baterai (Battery Trash), at a launch event at the Kongres Wanita (KOWANI) office in Central Jakarta. He concentrates on the effects of disposed batteries on the environment, the different kinds of batteries and the different options that are available to people to recycle their disposed batteries.
During the launch, Rafa showcased the research he undertook on discarded batteries and the potential negative effects the waste has on the lives of many Indonesians.
“Many batteries contain B3 material, which means poisonous materials. There are many kinds of examples of this such as mercury, lead and chromium […] This is what makes electronic trash so dangerous. For example, lead affects the blood circulation of many people when its burned. Burning plastic trash is already bad for the environment and the health of many. Imagine burning e-waste.”
Tuti Hendrawati, an expert in the field of waste management policy at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, said batteries are dangerous not only in the chemicals they emit but also the risks they pose to people.
Rechargeable batteries tend to overcharge, which can lead to harmful explosions, she said.
Sonia Umar Buftheim, a researcher at the Bali Fokus Foundation, also reiterated the consequences of increased e-waste.
“In 2012, data shows that [Indonesia] has 12 million tons of e-waste only from refrigerators and televisions,” Sonia said.
Rafa, who is about to start high school at Taruna Nusantara in Magelang, Central Java, said he was mainly concerned with the growth of e-waste in the country and people’s low sense of responsibility when it comes to disposing of it.
“Our interest in buying new devices every year is so high. If you buy a new iPhone X, where does your iPhone 8 go? Where does your iPhone 7 go?”
Rafa said he was confident that youths can make a difference and their actions can grow into a bigger movement.
“I am part of the youth of Indonesia, and I am sure that the voice of the youth is far louder […] I refuse to sit around and let the environment be destroyed by technology.
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List of some drop box locations:
- Cikal Elementary School
- Cikal Amri Setu Junior High School
- Labschool Kebayoran Junior High School and Senior High School
- Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
- School of Public Health (University of Indonesia)
- Canisius College
- Goni Coffee
- Keluarga Kudus Church
