TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Pilot project to tackle used diaper waste launched in West Jakarta
In an attempt to address the disposable diaper waste problem, a pilot project launched in West Jakarta on Friday to educate residents on how to properly dispose of used diapers.
Change Size
Waste caused by disposable diapers is a long-standing problem everywhere including Jakarta. Every day, tons of used diapers are dumped in Jakarta’s dumpsite and rivers. In an attempt to address the problem, a pilot project launched in West Jakarta on Friday to educate residents on how to properly dispose of used diapers. (shutterstock.com/-)
W
aste caused by disposable diapers is a long-standing problem everywhere including Jakarta. Every day, tons of used diapers are dumped in Jakarta’s dumpsite and rivers. What makes matters worse is that many of them are not disposed of properly and still contain excrement, which poses a serious health risk to the river biota and humans alike.
In an attempt to address the problem, a pilot project launched in West Jakarta on Friday to educate residents on how to properly dispose of used diapers.
The pilot project was carried out by consumer goods producer PT Kao Indonesia, which also produces diapers, in cooperation with the West Jakarta administration and recycling company PT Guna Olah Limbah.
“We are cooperating with more than 1,000 officers from 28 integrated health posts [Posyandu] in West Jakarta to carry out the program. They will help educate residents in their areas and collect used diapers from local residents. The pilot project will run for 35 days until Dec 22,” Susilowati, Kao Indonesia's VP of marketing, told the press after the launch.
In the program, every week, the used diapers will be collected by the Posyandu officers before being picked up by the firm and sent to PT Guna Olah Limbah in Bandung, West Java, to be recycled.
“The used diapers will be weighed and in exchange, Kao will give the Posyandu Rp 2,500 [18 US cents] per kilogram of used diapers. At the end of the project, the Posyandu that has collected the most used diapers will receive a prize,” Susilowati said.
At Guna Olah Limbah, the used diapers will be shredded into tiny pieces using hydrothermal machines. The plastic part of the diapers can be turned into oil to fuel the hydrothermal machines, while the rest can be turned into fiber that could be used to make hebel bricks and plant pots, Susilowati explained further, claiming that all parts of the used diapers were recyclable.
