Collaboration Drives Huge Results for Trash Hero Kertalangu

by Leslie Finlay on 11/08/2017 1 comment

Putu Evie Suyadnyani is the co-founder of Trash Hero Kertalangu, a chapter of Trash Hero Indonesia. Evie and her husband have spent more than a decade dedicated to living responsibly and reducing plastic waste. Originally from Denpasar, Evie grew up on the beaches of Sanur and is acutely aware of the environmental problems of the area. She and her family decided to make some positive changes to their village.

“Over the past 13 years I have prepared myself to be a person and also to have family who can be role models for others,” Evie said. “We are very disciplined about our plastic diet: reduce, reuse and recycle is a must in our house, and we have even encouraged our extended family and staff do so too. Just one year ago, there has been a change of the village head, and he has taken notice of our family and our message. One month ago, Wayan Aksara with his local movement inspired us to create a new Trash Hero chapter in our area that we have called Trash Hero Kertalangu.”

Wayan Aksara is the leader of Trash Hero Saba, another Indonesian chapter began this year that has removed 1680 kilograms of trash with more than 1,000 volunteers since January.

Trash Hero Kertalangu was founded with incredible success. The community’s first cleanup was a joint, collaborative event with the Denpasar government offices and more than 1,200 people participated, including many children.

“I think that a good government program can be successful when there are people from the community involved.” Evie said. “Our Trash Hero in Kertalangu is made up of the people and the community of Kertalangu. Many people have warned us how difficult it can be if we involve the government, but I really want to prove that this is not true.”

She said that there are actually a lot of benefits for Trash Hero when working together with a governmental branch, such as the village office.

“We are very lucky we have such supportive village head. I got the village office secretary to be our coordinator between the village office staff and the community since he already has the communication base for that,” she said. “I also asked him to help to coordinate the trash pick-up. My duty is to make sure they do it in the right way, for example making sure that every cleanup participant is focused on picking up plastic trash, making sure that the rubbish ends up in the right place to be managed well and not to be burned or disposed of in an irresponsible manner. There are education opportunities that come with this cooperation. I think it is going to be a good corporation between us Trash Hero Kertalangu and the village office of Kesiman Kertalangu.”

The inaugural cleanup was attended by more than eight schools, each school represented by 20 or more students. Eleven community centres and their community chiefs, youth groups, village office staff, local police officers and local companies all also attended alongside Trash Hero staff and volunteers.

“My jaw nearly dropped and at the same time I felt a bit nervous,” Evie said in reaction to the huge turnout for the cleanup. “At the beginning of the event everything was so formal and I never thought I would have the opportunity to talk to that many people, but I got the chance to introduce Trash Hero very well and spread the message about how important it is to pick up every single piece of plastic that they see, even the small pieces. Managing that many people to do a cleanup is super hard, but I am glad that the government also works with a trash bank and that I have a great team to help.”

Evie has big plans for Trash Hero Kertalangu. She said that working with the village office she wants to help educate local residents to not litter and know how to separate their trash for the trash bank that she helped arrange. She also said that they plan to launch education initiatives to teach locals how to compost, reduce their trash and reuse and recycle instead of resorting to burning.

“One of our main aims is that there is no more trash burning in our area (or anywhere in Bali!) because it is very dangerous for residents’ health and it is annoying for residents and their families,” she said.

Above all, Evie believes in small, steady changes on a local level that can have far-reaching impact. For this, communication and collaboration is imperative.

“To really make a change that includes changing habits and mindsets, it is really important to have a local leader that you can work with and trust so that these changes can be made quicker at a local and community level. Any positive change can be achieved if there is a solution provided for the community that people feel is a benefit for them. “Together we can!”

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Leslie FinlayCollaboration Drives Huge Results for Trash Hero Kertalangu

Update: Trash Hero Indonesia Accomplishments

by Leslie Finlay on 04/08/2017 2 comments

As we make our way through another successful summer, we want to pause to acknowledge some of the achievements and collaborations that have contributed to such a robust year to date.

Trash Hero Indonesia is stronger than ever – and still growing! In May 2015, Gili Meno and its 172 heroes collected 1,000 kg of trash, kicking off Indonesia’s involvement with Trash Hero. By May 2016, participation had ballooned to seven chapters. This May 2017, 10 chapters represented 8,000 heroes, together collecting more than 50,000 kg of trash. Active chapters include Ubud, Amed, Gili Meno, Lombok (Tanjung), Sanur, Komodo, Saba, Bandung, Jimbaran, and Candidasa.

Last year Trash Hero partners Bye Bye Plastic Bags and Ecobricks visited to discuss future collaborations, and this past May representatives from Indonesia’s 10 active chapters met to put plans into action. Bye Bye Plastic Bags could reach a general ban of plastic bags on Bali as early as 2018, and many chapters have demonstrated the efficacy of Ecobricks already.

 

Ecobricks on Gili Meno. Photograph Adina Malveklint

Other current projects in Indonesia include the promotion of Trash Hero @Work, a program launched in December 2016 through which companies ban plastic water bottles in the workplace and provide free water to employees, and the importance of up-cycling. Many local heroes also demonstrated huge amounts of creativity making items out of recycled materials – from speakers to chairs, beanbags to entire homes. There are even plans to release a Trash Hero children’s book, written in Bahasa for local children about marine life eating garbage. The project is in partnership with Green-Books, an environmental NGO promoting ecological literacy to children.

Trash Hero on Gili Meno. Photo Adina Malveklint

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Leslie FinlayUpdate: Trash Hero Indonesia Accomplishments

Trash Heroes on Gili Meno

by Leslie Finlay on 27/06/2017 No comments

GILI MENO, INDONESIA: MAY 2017- One Trash Hero was visiting Gili Meno in Lombok, Indonesia, and encountered a cleanup underway. 

“If this is an indication of what Trash Hero can do, the world is in good shape.”

The group of volunteers attracted attention from tourists, as well.

“I saw at least a couple of tourists who spontaneously joined in by throwing something in one of the sacks. Later in the evening I met a couple of newly-weds from Britain. They had seen the group – pretty hard to miss! – and thought it was a good way to also meet people. The couple had been on the island all day and hadn’t spoken to anyone else than each other, as people (many couples) seemed mostly in to each other. This would be a good thing to start in the UK, they said.”

The weekly cleanup attracts many locals and their children, as well. Educating children on a waste-free way of life early on is a tremendously important part of Trash Hero’s mission.

“One man on the walk came every week for the clean-up from neighboring island Lombok. And the group of kids did this every Sunday, on their one day off from school.”

Local residents understand the value of up-cycling as well. Adina came across a man who has constructed a garden wall out of 9,000 plastic bottles, all filled with soft plastic of different colors.

“The house owner even wants to make bungalows with this, for tourists to stay in. Garbage turned into a tourist attraction! He looked very pleased when I told him plastic doesn’t break down for 200 years.”

Keep up the great work, heroes of Gili Meno!

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Leslie FinlayTrash Heroes on Gili Meno

Trash in Bali

by Leslie Finlay on 25/06/2017 6 comments

BALI, INDONESIA – This fantastic video sponsored by the Danish Embassy Jakarta highlights the problem of trash in Bali.

Bali, an island that relies on tourism for its economy and job market, is facing a monumental trash crisis. According to the video, almost everyday there are reports of marine life washed ashore with a belly full of trash. One Island One Voice, Bali’s campaign to clean up its beaches, finds trash absolutely everywhere. Most of the trash volunteers came across is non biodegradable plastic, often just tossed from pedestrians or from vehicles.

One Island One Voice suggests that lack of education is the greatest challenge. The video says that decades ago trash was made from biodegradable materials like banana leaves and coconuts, and now plastic has replaced the natural materials. Local people don’t know that their trash doesn’t decompose anymore, and so their habits haven’t changed.

Many organizations, like Trash Hero and Bye Bye Plastic Bags are answering the call to action. The Zero Waste to Ocean Initiative is intent on education children and businesses on the dangers of waste, and ways to enact change now.

Be a trash hero: reduce your plastic trash, say no to plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic straws, and start using eco-friendly options!

 

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Leslie FinlayTrash in Bali

Trash Hero Gili Meno Wedding

by Amelia Meier on 06/05/2017 No comments

6 May 2017 – Trash Hero Gili Meno (Indonesia)

We are super happy to announce that two of our trash heroes from Trash Hero Gili Meno (Indonesia) have just gotten married. Supriyadi and Husnul Hatimah, on behalf of all of us at Trash Hero, CONGRATULATIONS! Wishing you all the best for a healthy and happy life together, and thank you for all you for Trash Hero Gili Meno.

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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Gili Meno Wedding

Trash Hero Alex’s Birthday

by Amelia Meier on 09/02/2017 No comments
9 February 2017 – Trash Hero Indonesia
A few weeks ago, Trash Hero Indonesia volunteers received this message:
“Hey Trash Hero,
I need your help! My son, Alex, is incredibly concern with the trash on Bali and has truly taken it to heart. For some reason, he really wants a Beach Cleanup Party for his 7th birthday, which is on February 2. His exact words were “On my 7th birthday, I want to go to the beach and find a big table with all the things we need. I want to get many strangers to come, and we can then tell tell them what to do to clean the beach” We all want to make this happen, and are hoping that you guys can help. I want to make this event public and make my Alex’ dream come true. Please let me know if you can be a part of this. Thank you”
Hélène and the other volunteers of Trash Hero Indonesia immediately got on board and assisted wherever possible. Alex’ mom did an amazing job at making the event known to the public and inviting people, and last Sunday they all gathered at the beach in Canggu and enjoyed a cleanup and some real birthday fun.

Alex has since gone on to be a regular hero, as you can see here. How awesome is it that young Alex is already infected with the Trash Hero virus?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX, AND ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR TRASH-FREE FUTURE!

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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Alex’s Birthday

Trash to Treasure Seminar in Jakarta

by Amelia Meier on 26/11/2016 No comments

23/24 November 2016 – Trash Hero Indonesia

Roman Peter just participated in the Trash to Treasure Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia. Organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (The Netherlands) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Indonesian Waste Platform, the focus of this seminar was to discuss possibilities for reducing the influx of waste to our environment, explore solutions on reduction of single-use packaging and alternative packing materials, and to establish partnerships on reaching these goals.

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Amelia MeierTrash to Treasure Seminar in Jakarta

Trash Hero Indonesia Chapters Rock

by Amelia Meier on 21/11/2016 No comments

21 November 2016 – Trash Hero Indonesia Chapters

Trash Hero Indonesia has just added up all that they have accomplished: Altogether, the Indonesian chapters have cleaned up 36 Tons, creating and educating 6’250 people in the process. Trash Hero Indonesia is getting stronger and stronger.

A huge thank you to all the chapters involved in this amazing effort: Amed, Sanur, Gili Meno, Ubud, Candidasa, Komodo, and Canggu. You guys rock!

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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Indonesia Chapters Rock

Let’s STOP Plastic Pollution

by Amelia Meier on 20/11/2016 No comments

20 November 2016 – Trash Hero World

There is no way around it: We need to Break Free From Plastic. Today our team in Trash Hero Amed, Indonesia was saddened to find the above picture when they went to the beach. This is worse than what it usually is.

Let’s all be a part of the change and contribute to stopping plastic pollution!

We are collaborating with the following organisations on this:

Plastic Soup Foundation International
Plastic Change
Let’s do it World
ROLE Foundation Charity Auction
Marine Conservation Society
Zero Waste Europe

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Amelia MeierLet’s STOP Plastic Pollution