Based on such facts, since March 2006 PT Unilever Indonesia, Tbk. and the Jaringan Delta FeMale Indonesia (JDFI) radio station formed a strategic partnership to created the Jakarta Green and Clean (JGC) program, an environmental conservation program through greening and independent waste management. One of the activities is the sanitation and community greening at the RT (Community Group) level throughout DKI, conducted in March – July 2006 and supported by the Ministry of the Environment (KLH), Badan Pengawas Lingkungan Hidup Daerah or the Provincial Environmental Management Office (BPLHD Propinsi) and Non Government Organization Dana Mitra Lingkungan. 148 RT (Community Groups) in Jakarta compete to make their environment green and clean.
Today (30/7), at Krida Loka Senayan, 5 RTs will be announced as winners of the JGC program. Present in this event are Ibu Erna Witoelar; Deputy Assistant of Domestic Waste Contamination Control and Small Scale Business Affairs, Drs. Moh. Helmi; Vice Chairman I PKK DKI Jakarta, Hj. Sri Hartati Fauzi Bowo; Corporate Relations Director PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk, Muhammad Saleh; President Commissioner JDFI, Malik Sjafei Saleh and Managing Director JDFI, Najib Azmie. About 1,500 Jakarta citizens participated in the public celebration, with entertainment by well-known MC Taufik Savalas and Shahnaz Haque.
Corporate Relations Director Unilever, Muhammad Saleh said, “We are very pleased with the enthusiasm of the Jakarta people to make the city of Jakarta green and clean. This is reflected in the many neighborhood groups who participated in this program. As a company that has grown together with the society in Indonesia, Unilever pays serious attention to environmental problems of significant impact to the quality of life. One of the the environmental problems that is most common in the cities is the waste problem that has become a common public enemy and must be resolved collectively as well.”
Of the participants who registered, 20 Best RTs have been selected for their community environmental make over and successfully fulfilling the criteria of the team of judges comprised of Unilever, JDFI, KLH, BPLHD Propinsi DKI Jakarta and Dana Mitra Lingkungan.
General Manager of Unilever Peduli Foundation also as Head of the Team of Judges, Okti Damayanti added: “The criteria for evaluating this environmental program competition comprises the management and sorting of waste as well as the greening program. Sorting of waste that we observe here is waste managed by individuals (by each resident) as well as collectively managed at the RT or neighborhood level. Waste management in each household of the 20 nominated RTs has followed the 3R Concept (Reduce, Reuse dan Recycle), the recycle dan composting programs. In addition, we also evaluate whether residents of the RT perform greening, the type of plants available and the benefits these plants possess especially for the local residents.”
President Commissioner of JDFI, Malik Sjafei Saleh said, “JDFI, in this case, Radio Delta and Radio FeMale play the role of representing the media community as a means of spreading information. In correlation to this program the JDFI feels the need to acknowledge the heroes of our environment by spreading information of the community activities related to environmental cleanliness and greening In doing so, we hope/expect that, it would further inspire others to join together with environmentally concerned communities as we have done.”
Malik added that such environmental awareness programs are continous. In the past years, JDFI has conducted environment greening programs in different forms, namely; Tanam 1002 Pohon (Plant 1002 Trees), Cleaning the Ciliwung River & Green Cities Green Communities. “I hope that the participation of all parties both from the private sector as well as the government can be raised further so that the making of Jakarta into a green and clean city can be achieved.”
If this year JDFI and Unilever can hold the JGC in Jakarta, the possibility is also there for us to organize such programs in other cities because JDFI radio stations are present in several major cities in Indonesia, namely Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Solo, Semarang, Makassar, Medan and Manado.
Explaining further on the Jakarta Green and Clean program, Okti elaborated that “To optimize this program, we embrace environmental cadres from the community by providing training on proper environmental management; namely by adopting the concept of sorting organic waste from non-organic waste starting from the household level, as well as processing organic waste into compost using simple technology. As 60 percent of household waste constitutes organic waste, the adoption of this concept can significantly reduce the volume of waste to be piled at the waste dump (TPA).
“We are confident that by involving cadres, the community’s understanding of the importance of proper waste management can produce a better environment. Our final objective is to transform the community paradigm on waste, from being something of an adversary to a “blessing” that possesses economic value if properly managed. With this paradigm, surely the environmental problems in Jakarta caused by the waste issues can be resolved,” says Okti.
The areas of the 20 RT nominees are mostly resided by residents living in narrow streets yet they are capable of carrying out greening. There is even an area which has conducted this activity far earlier even before participating in the JGC program. The role of housewives is also very important here. They are able to increase extra earnings by processing non organic waste into a variety of handicrafts, such as tablecloths, flower arrangements, dinner plates, umbrellas, etc. Today residents also show their works through independent waste processing and greening applied/implemented in their respective communities, such as a composter (a device to make homemade compost, knick knacks from non organic waste and the planting of medicinal and decorative plants.
In addition to the announcement of the Jakarta Green & Clean winners, today the installation of 509 caders of 2 districts under the guidance of PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk., namely Cempaka Putih Timur and Mampang Prapatan and 80 other caders originating from 20 RT nominees of the Jakarta Green and Clean.
Unilever had previously conducted the same program in Surabaya (2001) in Kelurahan Jambangan, and up until now this Surabaya Green & Clean program is still running.
“We expect this Jakarta Green and Clean program to be an eye opener for other private sectors to work hand in hand to resolve environmental problems in Jakarta, particularly sanitation and greening. The more parties conducting programs such as this, the greater the positive impact felt by us all,” explained Okti closing the discussion.