Waste4Change and Bank DBS Indonesia hold financial literacy education to increase the capacity of informal actors in the waste sector | Bahasa
DBSF SE Grant 2021 winner improves the performance of 300 waste banks and informal partners such as waste aggregators and junk shops in Greater Jakarta, West and East Java
Indonesia, 21 Mar 2023 - Bank DBS Indonesia and Waste4Change held an educational programme to improve the financial literacy of waste aggregators around Jabodetabek and optimise their business transaction recording. The programme, held at Waste4Change’s head office in Bekasi, West Java, was attended by Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia Mona Monika and Waste4Change Founder & CEO Bijaksana Junerosano. The activity was part of Bank DBS Indonesia and Waste4Change strategies to address the waste problem in Indonesia. Waste4Change is one of the social enterprises that received a grant under the DBS Foundation Social Enterprise (SE) Grant 2021 programme. Waste4Change used the grant to support the management of plastic waste of low economic value through a network of waste aggregators. From April 2022 to February 2023, Waste4Change managed to collect 630 tonnes of low value plastic waste. The cooperation, organised as part of Bank DBS Indonesia’s Partner Capacity Development Programme, will last until November 2023.
According to World Bank 2022 data, Indonesia generates 7.8 million tonnes of plastic waste every year and more than half of the amount is not handled properly. This makes Indonesia one of the biggest contributors to marine plastic pollution in the world, accounting for 10% of the total marine plastic waste. To deal with the plastic waste problem, Indonesia has so far relied on informal actors -- scavengers, waste stalls, waste aggregators, and waste bank managers-- to recycle plastic waste. The Journal of Environmental Engineering of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Volume 21, Number 1, 2015, notes that the recovery of waste by the informal sector in a temporary waste dump (TPS) and an intermediate transfer station (SPA) in Bandung City can reach around 29% per day. Research conducted by Sustainable Waste Indonesia in Jabodetabek in March-August 2021 revealed that the recycling rate of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that are often collected by scavengers can reach around 74%, PET gallons 93%, and polypropylene (PP) cups 81%. This means that the informal sector can play an important role in increasing the recycling rate of plastic waste.
Unfortunately, these informal actors still record transactions and waste tonnage data manually and irregularly. They are generally not familiar with transaction recording or bookkeeping techniques that can facilitate their business operations in a sustainable manner. In fact, neat, well-organised, and detailed waste records can help them evaluate business development and help other parties such as the government in collecting accurate managed and recycled waste tonnage data. Therefore, Bank DBS Indonesia and Waste4Change are committed to providing education and encouraging a good traceability system in waste management carried out by informal actors. In the future, it is hoped that the actual history and recording system can be realised and used as reference. The collaboration has also succeeded in providing new understanding of waste processing activities with 630 tonnes of low value plastic waste having been successfully processed.
Waste4Change's Head of Recycling Business Unit Rizky Ambardi said, "We see that the informal waste management sector has not been protected and officially recorded by the state as a party that plays a role in increasing material recycling, even though their performance has proven to be significant in processing more plastic waste. Waste4Change highly appreciates and supports efforts to optimise the role of the informal sector in assisting waste management through partnerships that continue to be strengthened so that a clear flow and operation can be created to support their integrated activities in waste management. We are using the grant from DBS Foundation to enhance our achievements by working together and supporting the performance of 300 waste banks and informal partners such as waste aggregators in Jabodetabek, West Java, and East Java. We plan to increase the income of workers in these areas while increasing the amount of recyclable materials collected to reduce the amount of untreated waste."
With a commitment to creating positive impact beyond banking, Bank DBS Indonesia positions itself as a different bank under the guidance of its three sustainability pillars, namely Responsible Banking, Responsible Business Practice and Impact Beyond Banking. "We are pleased to partner with Waste4Change who shares the same commitment as Bank DBS Indonesia to address the waste problem in Indonesia. Waste4Change's waste management of Bank DBS Indonesia’s head office and branches is the realisation of the second pillar, namely Responsible Business Practice, while the Partner Capacity Development Programme is the realisation of the third pillar, namely Impact Beyond Banking. We also hope that more social entrepreneurs can participate in efforts to address social issues through the opportunity to win a grant by applying for DBSF SE Grant 2023," said Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia Mona Monika.
As another manifestation of the third pillar, Bank DBS Indonesia mobilises employees as volunteers in the People of Purpose (PoP) programme. Through this programme, employees provide financial literacy education to broaden the knowledge of Waste4Change's customers and partners.
Waste4Change, a 2021 grant recipient, is one of the 14 Indonesian social enterprises selected by DBS Foundation. Meanwhile, DBS Foundation SE Grant 2022 awarded around SGD3 million to 15 social enterprises and 8 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia to grow their businesses and increase their social and environmental impact. In addition, since 2018, Waste4Change has been gradually managing waste at Bank DBS Indonesia's head office and branches across Indonesia. In 2022, the implementation of the 'Zero Waste to Landfill' waste management system in all office buildings at the head office and branches succeeded in reducing the amount of organic and inorganic waste (metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard) to 94.68 tonnes from 120 tonnes or a significant decrease of 21.1%.
For more information on the DBS Foundation Grant Programme, please visit DBS Foundation
Social Enterprise Grant Programme | DBS Foundation.
About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 14 consecutive years from 2009 to 2022.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
About DBS Foundation
DBS Foundation is focused on creating impact and improving lives through championing social entrepreneurship and preparing communities for the future.
Under its “Business for Impact” chapter, DBS Foundation enables and nurtures social enterprises in Asia, with the aim of scaling their innovative solutions to address growing social and environmental issues. In addition to its flagship grant programme, the Foundation also provides social enterprises with wide-ranging support in the form of advocacy, skills-training, capacity-building and business opportunities, among others.
In addition, DBS Foundation’s “Community Impact” chapter seeks to prepare communities for the future by equipping them with future-ready skills and reducing food waste.
For more information, please visit www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.
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About Waste4Change
PT Wasteforchange Alam Indonesia (Waste4Change) is a responsible waste management company that was established in November 2014 in Bekasi, West Java.
Waste4Change provides an end-to-end waste management solution that consists of 4 lines, namely:
Waste4Change’s waste management services have so far covered Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Semarang, Bandung, and Medan.
For more information, please visit https://www.waste4change.com.
According to World Bank 2022 data, Indonesia generates 7.8 million tonnes of plastic waste every year and more than half of the amount is not handled properly. This makes Indonesia one of the biggest contributors to marine plastic pollution in the world, accounting for 10% of the total marine plastic waste. To deal with the plastic waste problem, Indonesia has so far relied on informal actors -- scavengers, waste stalls, waste aggregators, and waste bank managers-- to recycle plastic waste. The Journal of Environmental Engineering of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Volume 21, Number 1, 2015, notes that the recovery of waste by the informal sector in a temporary waste dump (TPS) and an intermediate transfer station (SPA) in Bandung City can reach around 29% per day. Research conducted by Sustainable Waste Indonesia in Jabodetabek in March-August 2021 revealed that the recycling rate of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that are often collected by scavengers can reach around 74%, PET gallons 93%, and polypropylene (PP) cups 81%. This means that the informal sector can play an important role in increasing the recycling rate of plastic waste.
Unfortunately, these informal actors still record transactions and waste tonnage data manually and irregularly. They are generally not familiar with transaction recording or bookkeeping techniques that can facilitate their business operations in a sustainable manner. In fact, neat, well-organised, and detailed waste records can help them evaluate business development and help other parties such as the government in collecting accurate managed and recycled waste tonnage data. Therefore, Bank DBS Indonesia and Waste4Change are committed to providing education and encouraging a good traceability system in waste management carried out by informal actors. In the future, it is hoped that the actual history and recording system can be realised and used as reference. The collaboration has also succeeded in providing new understanding of waste processing activities with 630 tonnes of low value plastic waste having been successfully processed.
Waste4Change's Head of Recycling Business Unit Rizky Ambardi said, "We see that the informal waste management sector has not been protected and officially recorded by the state as a party that plays a role in increasing material recycling, even though their performance has proven to be significant in processing more plastic waste. Waste4Change highly appreciates and supports efforts to optimise the role of the informal sector in assisting waste management through partnerships that continue to be strengthened so that a clear flow and operation can be created to support their integrated activities in waste management. We are using the grant from DBS Foundation to enhance our achievements by working together and supporting the performance of 300 waste banks and informal partners such as waste aggregators in Jabodetabek, West Java, and East Java. We plan to increase the income of workers in these areas while increasing the amount of recyclable materials collected to reduce the amount of untreated waste."
With a commitment to creating positive impact beyond banking, Bank DBS Indonesia positions itself as a different bank under the guidance of its three sustainability pillars, namely Responsible Banking, Responsible Business Practice and Impact Beyond Banking. "We are pleased to partner with Waste4Change who shares the same commitment as Bank DBS Indonesia to address the waste problem in Indonesia. Waste4Change's waste management of Bank DBS Indonesia’s head office and branches is the realisation of the second pillar, namely Responsible Business Practice, while the Partner Capacity Development Programme is the realisation of the third pillar, namely Impact Beyond Banking. We also hope that more social entrepreneurs can participate in efforts to address social issues through the opportunity to win a grant by applying for DBSF SE Grant 2023," said Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia Mona Monika.
As another manifestation of the third pillar, Bank DBS Indonesia mobilises employees as volunteers in the People of Purpose (PoP) programme. Through this programme, employees provide financial literacy education to broaden the knowledge of Waste4Change's customers and partners.
Waste4Change, a 2021 grant recipient, is one of the 14 Indonesian social enterprises selected by DBS Foundation. Meanwhile, DBS Foundation SE Grant 2022 awarded around SGD3 million to 15 social enterprises and 8 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia to grow their businesses and increase their social and environmental impact. In addition, since 2018, Waste4Change has been gradually managing waste at Bank DBS Indonesia's head office and branches across Indonesia. In 2022, the implementation of the 'Zero Waste to Landfill' waste management system in all office buildings at the head office and branches succeeded in reducing the amount of organic and inorganic waste (metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard) to 94.68 tonnes from 120 tonnes or a significant decrease of 21.1%.
For more information on the DBS Foundation Grant Programme, please visit DBS Foundation
Social Enterprise Grant Programme | DBS Foundation.
About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 14 consecutive years from 2009 to 2022.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
About DBS Foundation
DBS Foundation is focused on creating impact and improving lives through championing social entrepreneurship and preparing communities for the future.
Under its “Business for Impact” chapter, DBS Foundation enables and nurtures social enterprises in Asia, with the aim of scaling their innovative solutions to address growing social and environmental issues. In addition to its flagship grant programme, the Foundation also provides social enterprises with wide-ranging support in the form of advocacy, skills-training, capacity-building and business opportunities, among others.
In addition, DBS Foundation’s “Community Impact” chapter seeks to prepare communities for the future by equipping them with future-ready skills and reducing food waste.
For more information, please visit www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.
- - - - -
About Waste4Change
PT Wasteforchange Alam Indonesia (Waste4Change) is a responsible waste management company that was established in November 2014 in Bekasi, West Java.
Waste4Change provides an end-to-end waste management solution that consists of 4 lines, namely:
- Consult: solving problems and providing your waste management solutions through detailed research & studies
- Campaign: helps you spread the message about responsible waste management practices through training and campaigns to the community.
- Collect: helps you manage your waste responsibly through waste collection and management
- Create: helping to improve the lifecycle of your business through the application of circular economy principles
Waste4Change’s waste management services have so far covered Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Semarang, Bandung, and Medan.
For more information, please visit https://www.waste4change.com.
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