This story is written using Participatory Action Research where community leaders are engaged to craft their own narratives. Born from real experiences and deep knowledge, these stories represent actionable agendas that transcend mere conceptualization.
| Institution Name | Gunung Emas Waste Bank |
| Year Established | 2014 |
| Office Address | Jalan. Kamboja 3 No. 9A, RT.9 RW.11, Rawangmangun, Kec. Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, 13220 |
| Customers 2014-2023 | 557 individuals customers, 6 companies, and 6 schools |
| Managed Waste | Approximately 6-7 tons per month |
| Total Waste Managed 2014-2023 | Since its establishment in 2014 until 2023, this waste bank has successfully reduced waste that would otherwise be disposed of to the Bantar Gebang landfill by 141,441 tons. |
Vera initially held a meeting with women in the area to improve their economic situation in Kampung Pulo Kambing, leading to her founding of the Gunung Emas Waste Bank.
The initial idea arose accidentally one day in early 2014. Vera pondered over about what she could do to be more beneficial to the community.
Returning home from the office, she sought various information about the greatest challenges in the lives of non-working housewives. She found the answer: managing family finances. Especially for housewives from underprivileged families with limited income, saving seemed like an impossible task.
Vera then sought ways to gather housewives to come to her house and discuss the importance of saving. It wasn’t easy. Several invitations were sent out, but none attended. Knowing that their need was money, she made an invitation with the lure: those who attended would receive a loan of Rp 1,000,000.
The philosophy of the meeting was simple: how the women living in Kp. Pulo Kambing Jatinegara could gather in a group to improve the economic situation of their families.
Set in Motion: United Family Group of Pulo Kambing to Improve Finances
That method proved effective. At least 20 women responded to her invitation. The promise to provide a loan did not materialize because Vera didn’t have that much money. On the bright side, the meeting yielded the desired results. From the meeting in January 2014, they agreed to form an association called “Kelompok Bersatu Kerabat Pulo Kambing” (United Family Group of Pulo Kambing). The philosophy of the meeting was simple: how the women
living in Kp. Pulo Kambing RT 008 RW 002 Jatinegara could gather in a group to improve the economic situation of their families. The meeting also agreed on a savings schedule starting from Rp 1,000.00.
The savings would be used to support business capital for these 20 women. In the first week, savings amounted to Rp 100,000. This money was immediately used by one of the group members for a fried rice business. According to the agreement, the collected funds had to be circulated for members’ businesses. The repayment system for business capital was in installments every day plus the savings.
Waste Bank Embryo: How to Manage Waste in the Community
After a few months, this activity was warmly welcomed by the mothers in the Pulo Kambing community. Many of them also enjoyed business capital from this savings movement. One day, a mother who wanted to save but whose husband’s income was only Rp 50,000.00 per week came. With that amount, not only was saving impossible, but even daily meals were insufficient. Seeing the extraordinary enthusiasm of the mother, Vera suddenly asked if there was any plastic or cardboard waste at her house. The mother answered yes. Vera asked her to bring the waste. Why did she think of waste? Vera remembered an old man who regularly passed by her house in the morning with an empty sack and returned in the evening with it full of waste.
At that time, Vera hadn’t thought about what waste would become. After the incident, Vera searched for information through Google about waste and found a news article about waste banks. She then discussed and invited four other mothers to form a team in what would later become the waste bank.
As someone unfamiliar with waste banks, she asked her middle school friend Veronica. She was one of the administrators at the APIK legal aid institution. It was Veronica who provided information about the APK Foundation, an organization focused on waste banks at the time. Long story short, Vera and her five friends received training at the APK Foundation, starting from learning about types, and sorting methods to selling waste.
After gaining adequate knowledge and skills, in March 2014, they declared the establishment of the Kerabat Pulo Kambing Waste Bank. Vera, as the initiator of this activity, was appointed as the chairwoman, Yayan Ferutensi as the secretary, Partinem as the treasurer, Iin Parlina and Idawati as public relations.
Efforts to Spread Plastic Waste Awareness to the Public
Several other innovations were also made to increase public awareness to manage plastic waste. One of them was through cooperation with state-owned or private companies.
Vera still remembers how at that time she sent notification letters to several companies and government institutions about the existence of this waste bank, One of those who responded to the email was PT Aneka Tambang Logam Mulia. The relationship with this state-owned company later gave rise to the waste-saving program with gold results.
In the program called NyiMas, residents who saved waste regularly for six months would receive their savings in the form of gold. There was quite a lot of enthusiasm for this programme. In 2017, at least 1,800 grams were obtained by customers within 2 years. This program ended in 2018.
— Read more about Vera’s journey along with other members on their challenges and opportunities during the covid-19 pandemic. (Access the full report here)
2022: WWF Supports to Gunung Emas Waste Bank
In 2022 WWF started to support them to manage the waste bank operations. WWF has given trainings to improve their management skills like setting work targets, preparing activity reports and moreover to reach out to wider network.
The waste bank also received equipment support for its operations from WWF. The equipment included shredders, hot press machines, and cold press machines. Operational vehicles for waste transportation were also provided. Similar vehicles were also obtained from Bank BNI and the Ministry of Trade.
— Find out Gunung Emas other achievement and innovation and their strategies to reach more customers (Access the full report here)
| 8 January 2014 | In an effort to improve the family economy, 20 women from RT.008 Kp. Pulo Kambing agreed to form a “Kelompok Bersatu Kerabat Pulo Kambing” (United Family Group of Pulo Kambing). |
| Do research on the internet about waste and waste banks. Create a team consisting of 5 people and take part in waste bank training. | |
| 2 March 2014 | Declaration of the establishment of the Kerabat Pulo Kambing Waste Bank. |
| May 2014 | Expanding membership from three other RWs. As well as mapping the abilities of itsmembers. |
| 2015 | The first exposure of the Kerabat Pulo Kambing Waste Bank to the public outside Pulo Kambing village, and recognition from the surrounding environment. |
| 2016 | Members become 20 people. Add other activities outside of waste collection. |
| 2017 | Collaboration with PT Aneka Tambang Logam Mulia in a program to save waste with gold proceeds. |
| 2018 | Establishment of the Pulo Kambing Foundation on an area of 575m², with a membership of more than 800 members |
| 2020 | During the Covid-19 period, holding Hydroponics classes for Sandiaga Uno’s Lembaga Rumah Siap Kerja online class training. |
| 2021 | Changing the name of the waste bank from the Kerabat Pulo Kambing Waste Bank, to the Gunung Emas Waste Bank |
