Community initiatives to better manage solid waste are not only considered the next effective solution to the city's chronic waste-management problems, they can also open up job opportunities.

Imam Nur Akbari, marketing communication director of Aksi Cepat Tanggap, said waste recycling programs initiated in many communities in Jakarta have had multiplier effects in economic empowerment.

"Communities are recycling nonorganic waste into quality goods and selling them to well-known hypermarkets," he said in a press conference on Friday.

Aksi Cepat Tanggap is an NGO which addresses people's empowerment. The NGO is part of the Jakarta Green and Clean (JGC) program, initiated by a group of private companies and the city's Environmental Management Board. The companies include the household products firm PT Unilever Indonesia, the daily newspaper Republika and Delta FM radio.

JGC is holding a competition to showcase the best initiatives in waste management which community units (RW) in the city's five municipalities have devised.

Twenty-five community units have been named as finalists, and the final winner is to be announced Sunday.

JGC focuses on improving society's environmental awareness about waste-management issues, as well as reforestation, the role of water catchment areas and community participation.

"The biggest challenges are the extensive area requiring management and the density of the city's population. With more than 8,000,000 citizens in five municipalities, we try to raise people's awareness one step at a time," said Sinta Kaniawati, general manager of the Unilever Peduli Foundation.

The public response has been very positive with 300 community units taking part in the program's third year.

"JGC is a very inspiring program because it moves people to develop their volunteer sense," said Imam.

In the Ibu Bersinar Sunlight program, groups of women turn nonorganic waste into valuable products.

"Housewives have become very creative, fashioning such items as wallets, bags or pencil cases and selling them. Besides giving them additional income, they make good use of their spare time," said Sinta.

Twenty handicraft centers produce the recycled goods, labeled Trashion, all over Jakarta, providing employment opportunities as well.

Besides helping fix the city's waste problem, the program can help change Indonesia's eroded cleanliness image, Hanny Soemadipraja, Director of Masima Contents and Channels said.

"With small but consistent efforts, Indonesia can be Green and Clean in the future. We are truly committed to making a brighter Indonesia," she said.

Jakarta Green and Clean finalists

Central Jakarta:

1.RW 03 Serdang

2.RW 04 Serdang

3.RW 09 Cempaka Putih Barat

4.RW 12 Cempaka Putih Barat

5.RW 01 Cempaka Putih Tengah

North Jakarta:

1.RW 01 Semper Timur

2.RW 03 Semper Barat

3.RW 11 Warakas

4.RW 13 Warakas

5.RW 02 Sunter Agung

South Jakarta:

1.RW 03 Mampang Prapatan

2.RW 02 Pasar Minggu

3.RW 07 Kebayoran Lama Selatan

4.RW 06 Cipulir

5.RW 06 Pesanggerahan

East Jakarta:

1.RW 03 Malaka Sari

2.RW 06 Malaka Jaya

3.RW 04 Bambu Apus

4.RW 13 Cipinang Melayu

5.RW 02 Susukan

West Jakarta:

1.RW 02 Slipi

2.RW 05 Palmerah

3.RW 09 Kebon Jeruk

4.RW 04 Kedoya Utara

5.RW 07 Kedoya Utara

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