The waste bank program in the school area in Pejaten Barat Urban Village, Pasar Minggu District, South Jakarta has succeeded in reducing the volume of waste disposal while increasing children's awareness of the importance of waste management from an early age.

Head of Pejaten Barat Urban Village, Yudi Setia Prawira said the program has been proven to reduce the amount of waste sent to the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), as well as encouraging active participation of students in sorting waste.

"In one day, one school can donate around 13 kilograms of sorted waste. This shows the program is working well," he said, Tuesday (4/28).

Yudi explained that during the one-month implementation of the waste bank program involving local PPSU officers and stakeholders, out of a total of 12 schools in the West Pejaten area, five state schools had joined the program.

According to him, the main goal of this program is not merely to gain financial benefits from economically valuable waste, but rather as a means of environmental education for the younger generation.

The collected waste will be managed through the Siaga Waste Bank program in Pejaten Barat. Waste with economic value will be valued according to applicable regulations, while organic waste, such as kitchen waste, will be processed using maggots.

In addition to targeting schools, the urban village office is also urging residents and community leaders to start sorting their waste at home. A waste collection service is also available for residents who have collected unused items.

"Residents simply need to contact the urban village office via WhatsApp, and an officer will then come to pick up the trash," he added.

Meanwhile, the principal of SDN Pejaten Barat 11, Tri Widijati, welcomed the program and committed to making it part of the school culture.

"This collaboration is very good and we will make it a part of the character building of students," she stated.

She added that at SDN Pejaten Barat 11, various concrete steps had been taken, such as sorting waste in the canteen, making compost, and recycling it into works of art.