The waste donation baskets are placed at several points for people who want to donate their waste. “We want to take the lead so that people find it easy to dispose of waste, it’s also easy when they want to give charity,” added this female social activist.
Serikat Perempuan Pantai Utara (Serumpun) Bukit Batu Village, Singkawang, handed over aid to the poor and orphanages. The distribution of aid was carried out in two locations, namely in Pangmilang Village and Bukit Batu Village on (29/03).
“We collect donations from our group members and anyone who wants to donate. This year we set aside funds from the income of the “waste basket basket” activity. We put these wastebaskets at several points,” said Nurpunati, Chair of the Serumpun Sejati Group, Gemawan‘s partner.
From the collected funds, group members then buy basic necessities which are packaged. Serumpun Sejati Group carried out this social activity to welcome the month of Ramadan. “It has been four years since Serumpun Sejati distributed basic necessities to community groups in need,” She explained for the “blessing of donation waste” sharing activity.
Actively member groups of Serumpun Singkawang, including Serumpun Sejati, contribute to reduce the waste problem in Singkawang. The average amount of garbage in Singkawang City reaches 114 tons every day. The Singkawang City Government estimates that each person in Singkawang produces 0.25 kg of waste per day. 75 tons of this waste ends up in the TPA (Final Disposal Site). Some of the waste that is not accommodated in the TPA is the contribution of the Singkawang Serumpun group in its management to share the blessings of this waste.
The Waste Donation Initiative through the Waste Bank
Together with the Singkawang City Environment Agency, this group carried out a waste donation campaign by preparing a wastebasket with the words “Sedekah Sampah”. The waste donation baskets are placed at several points for people who want to donate their waste. “We want to take the lead so that people find it easy to dispose of waste, it’s also easy when they want to give charity,” added this female social activist.
The bottles and plastic cups collected from these wastebaskets are then sold, and the money is used to buy basic necessities for the disadvantaged and poor. The recipients of this assistance are members of the underprivileged community who are not touched by aid from the government. A total of 35 basic necessities packages were handed over to people in need.
“Our group members are not from the upper classes, but by being able to share with people who need it more, we are delighted and feel that we can be useful to many people,” she concluded.
Translated by: Ridho Faizinda