'Exchange Garbage Savings with Sembako', that's the name of the activity which was held on April 14 and 26, 2022. This activity, which involves more than 100 waste bank and waste lab customers, is part of the Environmental Imaji Program (I-LINK) initiated by Imaji Sociopreneur and PT Universal Tempu Rejo in 5 villages in Jember Regency.

The program, which focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling as well as reducing consumption of primary resources and waste production through the Waste Bank, Waste Lab, and Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) seeks to invite people to manage their household waste while changing the stigma associated with waste.

“Waste is often considered worthless. In fact, through proper management, waste can actually be an alternative income for the community. So in addition to touching the environmental aspect, there is also an economic aspect in it. This is what prompted us to launch I-LINK since last August 2021,” said the Director of the Environment Imaji Sociopreneur Rohman Abadi.

Furthermore, Abadi said that the exchange of waste savings with basic necessities was carried out according to the agreement between the customer and each manager of the waste management unit under I-LINK.

“There are those who agree at the end of the year, there are also those who agree that before Lebaran it is exchanged with basic necessities. Because usually, the price of basic needs will rise before Eid. We're just following the agreement," he said.

The waste exchange activity for basic necessities at the Waste Lab Barokah Jaya waste management unit was carried out on April 14, 2022 and involved 32 customers around Bagon village, kec. Puger. What is unique is that the exchange mechanism also involves MSMEs around the village. This is done, said Abadi, so that more people know and even want to be involved in the I-LINK program while helping the economic turnover of MSMEs in the village.

“First, this is part of our commitment to give rights to the community who are customers. Rewards for being customers and taking part in sorting and managing household waste, this is their right, so yes, it must be given, "said Abadi.

“Besides that, so that people who are not customers will also know us, that waste can also be exchanged for basic necessities. In addition, by collaborating with shops in the village to help the economic turnover of village MSMEs as well. Thank God, after the activity, there were already 100 people who were interested in becoming customers," he added.

When they want to exchange their waste, each customer only needs to bring a passbook containing the amount of waste that has been sorted and collected since August 2021. Then, the waste management unit management will record and give coupons with a nominal value of each to be exchanged for basic needs in the village MSMEs. that have been appointed.

"The exchange is free, it can be noodles, oil, syrup, or whatever the customer wants," concluded Abadi.

Meanwhile, the exchange of waste savings at the Sumber Rejeki Waste Bank management unit which involved 72 customers around the village of Kesilir, kec. Wuluhan will be held on April 26, 2022. The mechanism is quite the same, customers only need to bring their waste savings, which are recorded and exchanged for coupons by the management.

Running for almost a year, the efforts to manage waste from upstream through I-LINK are quite fruitful. The total waste that is separated and collected in the Barokah Jaya Waste Lab management unit reaches 529.62 kg with details of 225.84 kg of plastic waste; 191.16 kg of paper; and 112.62 kg of iron.

Meanwhile, the total waste that is separated and collected in the management unit of the Sumber Rejeki Waste Bank reaches 1.2 tons with details of 308.57 kg of plastic waste; 476, 15 kg of paper; and 415.1 kg of iron.

This result makes Abadi optimistic: that waste management from upstream is very possible to be pursued through a scheme that is fair to the community. He also hopes that in the future, more people will know and be involved in the I-LINK program.

“Of course, if more people are involved, more people are aware of how to sort and manage their waste independently, the waste problem can be solved. The increase in the volume of waste is a necessity as the population increases, the challenge now is to build management units at the smallest level, namely villages, campaign for the importance of sorting and managing, and changing the community's stigma against waste that is already considered as something of no value," he said. . (*)