Take a peek at the simple way SMPN 18 Bandung presents a waste-free school

Not long ago, Bandung City Public Relations had the opportunity to see directly that students, teachers and officers at SMPN 18 Bandung were united in implementing the habit of managing waste independently.

They have a movement called Mistar. Yes, this name is an abbreviation of 'misting and tumbler'. This means that all residents of SMPN 18 Bandung have developed the habit of bringing food and drink containers to school.

Apart from that, SMPN 18 Bandung also has Duta Adiwiyata, which also has creative products from waste processing.

The head of SMPN 18 Bandung, Rika Yustikasari, said that implementing good habits in waste management starts with the simplest things. Starting from bringing places to eat and drink, as well as getting students used to throwing rubbish in the right place according to the type of rubbish.

“We do this simple habit every day. "Of course the goal is for students to become trained in sorting waste," said Rika.

The waste produced by SMPN 18 Bandung is divided into three categories: organic, inorganic and residue. It doesn't stop here, they treat these 3 types of waste as an effort to create a waste-free school.

They process organic waste using a compost method. Then, they also try to process non-organic waste themselves, one of which is by making ecobricks.

One of their ecobrick creations is a bench made from waste bottles, paper and plastic.

It takes as many as 16 plastic bottle waste to produce one bench from this material. Rika said that the number of bottles was produced by each class at SMPN 18 Bandung.

"There are 16 classes here, so within a week, we assign the children to collect plastic bottle waste and waste that cannot be recycled to fill them into plastic bottles. "The result is one ecobrick," he explained.

After the ecobricks material is collected, then the children, accompanied by the teacher, complete it by adding foam/upholstery and a foam cover.

This ecobrick work made by the children of SMPN 18 Bandung can be said to be quite good! For use by people with a height of around 160-175 cm and a weight of 50-80 kilograms, this bench feels comfortable and ergonomic. The width and height are quite comfortable and proportional.

For those of you who are curious about the products and process of making ecobricks made by the children of SMPN 18 Bandung, you can just play there!

Consistently Remind Good Habits
On this occasion, Counseling Guidance Teacher/Adhiwiyata Team Leader at SMPN 18 Bandung, Siti Hafsoh, said that the role of teachers and schools is as a reminder for students to implement these good habits.

The hope is that the students of SMPN 18 Bandung will get used to it, and will be able to carry this habit with them until they graduate and blend into the environment when they are adults.

According to him, the process of getting children used to treating waste certainly has extraordinary challenges. However, he is optimistic that if he continues to be reminded, over time the students will get used to it.

“Our function is to serve as a reminder. "The goal is that these good habits will continue to be remembered and implemented by children, until they grow up," he said.

For SMPN 18 Bandung, the effort to create a zero waste school is not to steal the attention of other parties, but to jointly protect the environment they have.

Even so, the school stated that it was very open if there were Bandung residents who were interested in learning to manage waste in the style of SMPN 18.

"Of course we are very open, let's share positive information like this together," concluded Hafsoh. (ray)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Information Office

Yayan A. Brilyana
​