The Indonesian Express
Indonesia's waste problem is not an easy solution. Data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) provides a glimpse into the complexity of this issue. The data indicates that throughout 2024 alone, the national household waste accumulation reached 34.2 million tons. Of that amount, approximately 40%, or 13.7 million tons, was not properly managed. This means that the waste accumulated in illegal dumps, drifted into rivers and seas, or silently polluted the environment. This figure illustrates the complexity and chronic nature of the waste management problem in this country. However, despite these grim facts, hope is beginning to grow. The government has cited a downward trend in waste volume in recent years. One approach that is now increasingly being promoted is the concept of a circular economy, a management strategy that emphasizes the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste to maintain its value and prevent it from ending up in landfills. Interestingly, the circular economy concept, which is currently being widely discussed, has already been practiced naturally by many people at the household level. This concept isn't complicated, nor does it require advanced technology. Everything can be done simply and daily. One such person is Iman Kristianto, who transforms household waste into beneficial fertilizer for plants. It all started from a simple scene in his kitchen. Every day, his wife was busy baking cakes to sell, and through this process, the pile of eggshells continued to grow. Initially, he thought it was just ordinary waste, but over time, Iman became intrigued. "At that time, I saw the shells piling up. It was a shame to just throw them away. I thought, 'Could this be used?'" Iman told Validnews on Wednesday (July 16th). As a plant lover, his instinct immediately went to the pots in his yard. He began experimenting in 2018. He washed the eggshells thoroughly, dried them in the sun until they were completely dry, and then ground them into a fine powder. The calcium- and mineral-rich powder was then sprinkled onto the growing medium. The results were surprising. The ornamental plants and small vegetables in his home grew more vigorously, their leaves were greener, and they didn't wilt as easily. "Initially, I just tried it out of curiosity. But after seeing the results, I became convinced that this could be useful more broadly," said the Tangerang native. Iman didn't stop there, and began to dig deeper into information from various sources, including tutorials on YouTube. He continued to refine his method of processing eggshells and test their benefits on various types of plants. Slowly but surely, the experiment, which was initially only for personal consumption, began to attract attention. The plants in Iman's yard were growing luxuriantly and looking fresh, and neighbors and relatives began to ask questions. Many were curious and wanted to try his homemade eggshell powder. From there, word of mouth spread.