SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Status: Ongoing, since 2015
Indonesia has a big problem with solid waste, because there is no proper system to deal with the produced trash. Therefore a lot of trash ends up in the ocean, mangrove areas and in forests. Manengkel Solidaritas had a project to teach coastal communities to adapt to the trash problem and it was a success. Currently they are looking for new funds to transfer the concept to more villages.
MRC Project
Filmed in February 2025
Produced and edited by: Clémence Véron
Starting in December 2024, the Manado Micro Recycling Center (MRC) was established as an initiative of Perkumpulan Manengkel Solidaritas, a local NGO focused on conservation and community empowerment. MRC was born out of concerns over the vast amount of unmanaged plastic waste, particularly at the Sumompo Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Manado.
TPA Sumompo receives approximately 500 tons of waste daily from across Manado City, with around 18% of it being High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste. This type of plastic includes plastic bags, polybags, sugar wrappers, candy wrappers, and various other plastic packaging. Unfortunately, at that time, there was no sustainable waste management system to collect and recycle HDPE. As a result, this plastic waste often ended up polluting the environment or being openly burned, posing significant health risks to communities and ecosystems.
To address this issue, Manado MRC was established to process HDPE plastic waste into useful products while creating job opportunities for women and youth groups near TPA Sumompo. With just one press machine and one shredder, along with a dedicated workforce of two housewives and two local youths, MRC began operations with high enthusiasm and commitment.
In less than a year, MRC successfully processed around 1,000 kilograms (1 ton) per month of HDPE plastic waste into economically valuable products, such as roof panels and trash bins. These products were then distributed to various locations, including fishermen’s homes in Kapitu Village, South Minahasa. Additionally, recycled trash bins were supplied to schools, such as SD GMIM Buha, and small shops in Manado City to support better waste management efforts.
The Manado City Government supports MRC, and the local communities around TPA Sumompo are benefiting from both a cleaner environment and improved economic opportunities through recycling initiatives. Manado MRC stands as a real example of how community-based innovation can provide solutions to environmental problems while creating positive social impacts.
In the future, MRC aims to expand its capacity by increasing the number of machines and workforce while introducing more innovative products made from recycled materials. The hope is that this initiative will inspire other regions to develop similar models, collectively working toward a more sustainable future for Manado City and beyond.
Project: Increasing Plastic Waste Collection in Underserved Areas
Background
Background
Manado faces significant challenges in waste management, with increasing waste volumes each year. Manengkel Solidaritas, through this project, aims to improve plastic waste collection and sorting, particularly in underserved areas such as Bailang and Molas villages.
Key Activities
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Community Education & Group Formation
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Awareness campaigns and training for PKK women’s groups in Bailang and Molas.
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Establishing the Green Squad at Pondok Pesantren Assalaam Bailang.
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Developing an Educational Waste Management Module for children and the general public.
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Capacity Building & Infrastructure Support
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Formation of the TPS3R Cempaka waste management group to enhance community-based waste management.
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Procurement of two three-wheeled waste collection vehicles to facilitate waste transportation.
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Installation of Occupational Health and Safety (K3) information boards for waste management workers.
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Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and waste sorting bags to waste management teams.
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Training & Empowerment
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Training on waste sorting, eco-enzyme production, and upcycling inorganic waste into valuable products.
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Maggot farming training as a solution for organic waste processing.
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Household financial management training for TPS3R group members.
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Results & Impact
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130 tons of waste collected, surpassing the initial target of 76 tons.
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More than 2,400 households engaged in waste sorting initiatives.
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Increased environmental awareness through 26 awareness sessions and training activities.
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Strong collaboration with government, communities, and private sector for sustainable waste management.
Conclusion
This project has successfully established an effective community-based waste management model. With strong collaboration between various stakeholders, this system is expected to continue and serve as a model for other areas in creating a cleaner and healthier environment.
Why?
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Solid waste can be found in every area of the coasts of North Sulawesi, it destroys the marine system and kills a lot of animals living in the ocean
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Many coastal communities are not aware of the long term effects of throwing solid waste in the ocean
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There is no system to deal with the trash produced in daily life, therefore no one feels responsible for the trash
Waste on a scale
Training
Activities
The project is focused on three major themes:
Waste management
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To improve the sustainability of waste management systems in coastal villages around the bay of Amurang
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Training to increase community income based on plastic segregation and sales
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Training sessions that will provide communities with effective recycling tools and techniques, especially for making compost and preparing vertical gardens in Arakan village
Food Security
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Encourage communities to produce food locally and become less dependent on external supplies
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Training in VertiCulture and organic farming
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Environmental Education
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Classes to raise awareness of the threats to marine and coastal environments
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Training for teachers
Training organic farming
Results
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Waste Management
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Successful implementation in the villages of Rap-Rap, Arakan, Sondakan villages, North Sulawesi, Indonesia\
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Households in three villages were equipped with double containers bins
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Waste collection centres were established in all three villages
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A monthly monitoring system of household waste was established
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Five households of each village took part in a pilot composting system
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Food Security
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Raising awareness of the benefits of traditional and locally grown food
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Dependency on external food supply was decreased by 20%
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The number of households practising VertiCulture and organic farming increased by 20%
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Environmental Education
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70% of students (grade 4 and 5) from the villages attended classes about coastal environmental care.
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Three teachers from three primary schools were trained to deliver lessons on marine and coastal environment issues ensuring the long term suitability of marine education in these areas
Training in Waste Management
Manengkel Solidaritas organised training sessions that covered two areas: organic and solid waste management. The first one was about simple way of making compost. The second session concentrated
on solid waste, in particular on plastic bottles.
Using the compost
Organic farming
The most important issue was how to combine those two waste sources in efficient way. In this regard, concept of the vertical garden using both organic compost and plastic bottles was introduced and practiced. In first session attended 12 participants representing households (out of 20 targeted), in the second one the number increased to 20. People, who were trained received plants seeds and within practical sessions they constructed vertical gardens in front of their houses.
Environmental Education
Teampicture
This project was supported by :
