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As a small shop owner, Lily found recycling a bothersome chore. Tons of waste would go unnoticed outside her store for days, creating unnecessary mess. But in her neighborhood in East Jakarta, unattended waste seemed to be the norm.
Lily is trying to change her habits and she is slowly learning by using a newly developed app that aims to offer a practical solution to waste management.
E-Recycle allows residents like Lily to drop her waste into a recycling facility while getting rewarded with cash or shopping vouchers, depending on the weight of the waste. For now, the company only accepts plastic bottles, glass bottles, bottle caps and other single-use plastic items.
"My waste is usually made up of bottles, so this app has really taken the load off my shoulder in terms of giving my waste away," said Lily.
Aside from lightening her load, Lily has also begun to understand the importance of recycling.
"I realize now that my waste has an economic value. So this app has helped me to become more responsible in recycling them," she said.
Lily, a small shop owner, is learning to be more environmentally conscious especially with her plastic waste. /CGTN
The app's founder, Dicky Wiratama, saw a gap in the recycling distribution chain.
"The journey from the first producer of the waste to the recycler is not working well, so we feel that we have to do something. We want to ask people and educate people to join this and we also want to create new social economy through waste. We can make prosperity through waste," said Dicky.
Dicky Wiratama, founder of the app, is hoping to change residents' waste management habits through the e-Recycle app. /CGTN
Jakarta produces at least 7,000 tons of waste per day. Indonesia, as a whole, produces more than 60 million tons of plastic each year, three million of which ends up in the ocean.
"Right now we are focusing on changing people's habits. It's not about the money, we want to educate people on sorting out their own trash and understanding why recycling is important for Indonesia," he said.
The company's goal could be a crucial step in Indonesia's fight to go green. Many cities across the nation still needs stronger waste management programs. Without proper disposal systems, illegal dumping becomes a big issue.
Jakarta's landfill, which is located in a district outside of the city, is already reaching its maximum capacity with 50 million tons of waste. The city's administration says it simply cannot take anymore waste and they plan to close the facility by 2021.
With apps like e-Recycle, residents can start to become more environmentally conscious by learning to slowly reduce their waste and change their waste management habits.
