SUMPAH BERUANG: Transforming Waste into Currency
Tauhid Nur Azhar
Almost two decades ago, I wrote an article for a tabloid published by a well-known Islamic boarding school in Bandung, which contained my thoughts on urban waste management through community participation and the use of technology.
In the article, I attempted to propose an active community participation concept, starting from the neighborhood level for sorting and collection, to the RW level for decentralization of processing. The simple technology I proposed included household-level processing of organic waste to produce liquid organic fertilizer and compost, micro-integrated sewage to produce methane gas (CH4) that can be used as a local energy source for cooking nutritious meals at home within a 1-RW radius.
Another technology I introduced and proposed at the time was microbial-based waste management and the use of public land as a waste processing area that can also be used as a public space for social healing and family recreation. Why is this possible? Because it can take the form of a park with fish ponds, vertical farming with hydroponic racks, or aeroponics supported by micro-irrigation systems controlled by IoT technology, etc.
At the time, I created several prototypes that proved to be operational. Some of which still have digital footprints and physical evidence, such as the household organic waste bin that produces liquid fertilizer and compost, mini ponds with water hyacinths, zeolite filters, and windmills controlled by IoT to reduce CO and CO2 emissions from urban waste emissions, to simple methods for converting unhealthy used oil with high levels of saturated fat into biofuel or gasoline with a premium octane rating.
The goal is to make household consumption healthier because used oil has a market value, and the collateral benefit is that the latest fuel can be used by street vendors with a concept of environmentally friendly transportation.
The bioreactor and integrated waste processing center in a smart park with Wi-Fi, fish ponds, hydroponic vegetable gardens, and outdoor fitness equipment, were conceptualized as a smart public space that will become a micro-urban hub representing community unity and shared responsibility in the living space that is also a shared responsibility.
Because of this initiative, it was covered by the media, including the Bandung-based daily newspaper Pikiran Rakyat, and was also broadcast on a national private television station’s program. I was given the opportunity to present my ideas at a FGD (focus group discussion) event held at the Ministry of PUPR’s auditorium, attended by the Minister of PUPR at the time, Ir. Joko Kirmanto, Dipl. HE.
Regardless of whether the concept was eventually implemented or not, I hope that the ideas presented can spark initiatives from various stakeholders who may be more competent and have the authority or resources to drive public participation.
It has been proven that after almost two decades, a genius initiative has finally emerged as one of the innovative solutions to classic urban and suburban waste management problems, household and domestic waste.
A young regent from Banyumas Regency, Ahmad Husein, who has experience interacting with bureaucratic, political, and community elements at the grassroots level, has initiated a comprehensive waste management system in his regency, which he calls SUMPAH BERUANG, transforming waste into currency.
In many textbooks, journals, and course materials, the concept of waste management hierarchy has been extensively studied, which includes principles such as:
- Reduce: reducing the amount of waste generated from its source.
- Reuse: using items again for the same or different purpose.
- Recycle: processing waste materials into new products.
- Recovery (Energy Recovery): obtaining energy from waste through burning or other technologies such as producing methane gas and oil from gasification in bioreactors supported by fermentation by bacteria, and utilizing pyrolysis systems to convert plastic waste into gasoline.
Until the final stage of Disposal (Final Disposal), waste that cannot be processed in other ways can be disposed of in a minimal volume that does not burden the environment and minimizes waste.
Integrating ecological principles into industries to reduce environmental impact through material circulation in production and consumption systems is a necessity that must be pursued, until the 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) can become a main approach in urban waste management.
Bupati Ahmad Husein, with his innovative spirit, has successfully realized his dreams of sustainable city development and has driven the emergence of a circular economy in Banyumas.
The Sumpah Beruang (Transforming Waste into Currency) program initiated by Bupati Ahmad Husein is a waste management program in Banyumas Regency, aimed at solving waste problems from source to sink by integrating various technologies, from digital to innovative machines developed by local children.
The main principle of this program is to reduce waste by 70% at the source, which consists of several stages, including:
- Changing manual processing to mechanical processing to speed up the process.
- Sorting waste between high-value (scrap) and organic and inorganic materials using the Gibrik machine.
- Establishing 25 TPSTs to reduce waste disposal to TPA.
- Collecting organic waste using the Jeknyong application.
- Sorting and collecting organic waste using the Salinmas application, which collaborates with local waste banks.
In the Sumpah Beruang Banyumas program, waste is sorted between high-value (scrap) and organic and inorganic materials using the Gibrik machine. For example, the TPST Kedungrandu serves 3,100 customers, consisting of 3,067 household waste and 33 non-household waste.
From the data available in the field since January to September 2023, 11,592 cubic meters of waste have entered the TPST Kedungrandu, or approximately 21,037 tons of waste per day have been managed.
Waste at the TPST (25 TPSTs) is processed and managed by the Community-Based Social Group (KSM). The processing of waste includes scrap that can be sold directly to collectors, residues that are burned using pyrolysis machines, and organic waste that can be used as feed for magots, organic fertilizer, planting media, and Solid Fuel for Cooking (BBJP).
While low-value waste, mostly plastic, is processed into plastic paving, plastic roofing, and RDF as an alternative to coal, organic waste is bought by KSM through the Salinmas application prepared by the Banyumas Regency Government for the people of Banyumas. KSM buys from residents at a price of IDR 400/kg. This organic waste is then processed into compost and maggot feed, which is bought by the Environmental Agency at a price of IDR 1,000/kg.
Furthermore, compost will be distributed to farmers’ groups free of charge in accordance with the policy of the Regent.
For inorganic waste, the Banyumas Regency Government provides the Jeknyong application, which is managed by BUMD, namely PT BIJ (Banyumas Investama Jaya). Currently, BUMD BIJ has started producing Bahan Bakar Jumputan Padat (BBJP).
In October 2023, it has started sending it to the PLTU Adipala in Cilacap Regency. Meanwhile, high-value inorganic waste has been processed into plastic pellets. As for low-value inorganic waste, it has been processed into plastic roofing and paving blocks.
Paving blocks are bought by the Regency Government through the Public Works Agency at a price of IDR 160,000 per square meter for road construction in the Banyumas area.
Another product from low-value inorganic waste is RDF as an alternative to coal. RDF produced by TPST in the Banyumas area is sent to PT. Solusi Bangun Indonesia (PT.SBI) Plant in Cilacap by Koperasi KSM. Koperasi KSM was formed at the initiative of KSM to bridge the partnership between PT. SBI Cilacap and KSM.
The average amount of RDF sent to SBI is 30 tons per day at a price of IDR 375,000 per ton. In addition, PT Unilever Indonesia also collaborates with a cost-sharing scheme of IDR 125,000 per ton. So, the total revenue from the sale of RDF is IDR 500,000 per ton.
Imagine, isn’t it amazing the holistic income from waste management by the Banyumas Regency Government? In the context of the Sumpah Beruang, Banyumas is even more superior compared to several major cities in the world that have only partially implemented various waste processing technologies.
Tokyo, for example, has implemented a very detailed waste sorting system and advanced recycling technologies, including optical sorting and advanced plastic recycling facilities, but it has not been integrated as has been done by various community elements in Banyumas.
There is also a composting project in San Francisco that is considered successful, with the use of community-scale bio-digester technology, which helps the city achieve a waste diversion rate of over 80%. Meanwhile, the program in Banyumas is even more comprehensive and has engaged many farmer groups, making it one of the main elements in the concept of food security in the region.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, there is a Waste-to-Energy plant called Amager Bakke that can convert waste into energy with high efficiency and also serves as a public recreation area. It seems that the idea I also had two decades ago, the concept of integrated waste management with public service facilities such as green spaces and recreation areas, can also be applied in Banyumas.
As for the application of information technology in urban waste management, it can be learned from the smart waste management system in Barcelona.
Barcelona uses IoT sensors at public waste bins to optimize collection routes and increase operational efficiency. Meanwhile, Banyumas has already had two applications that have proven to optimize the urban and sub-urban waste management process chain with precision based on information technology.
As a closing note, I hope that the innovative breakthroughs made by the Banyumas Regency Government with Pak Ahmad Husein as its leader can motivate and be emulated by other regency and city governments in Indonesia, so that the problem of waste management, which has been a critical issue in many areas, can be quickly resolved and even provide multiple benefits for the region and its people.
References:
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2013). Towards the Circular Economy: Economic and Business Rationale for an Accelerated Transition.
- Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32.
- European Environment Agency. (2020). Waste prevention in Europe — policies, status, and trends in reuse in 2019.
- Bilitewski, B., Härdtle, G., & Marek, K. (1997). Waste management. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Brunner, P. H., & Rechberger, H. (2015). Waste to energy — key element for sustainable waste management. Waste Management, 37, 3–12.
