Cool! Pelita Fajar Elementary School Promotes Waste Sorting from an Early Age

Before the city of Bandung experienced a waste emergency, this school had implemented waste sorting and instilled good habits of protecting the environment in young children.

Bandung City Public Relations had the opportunity to visit Pelita Fajar Elementary School, Tuesday 24 October 2023. From observations, students at this school have been accustomed to bringing their own food and drink containers.

When break time arrived, students in grades 1-6 seemed to be enjoying their food and drinks independently. They also dispose of the rubbish themselves according to its category.

Waste processing at this school is also carried out from the classroom. So, in each classroom, organic, inorganic and residual waste bins have been provided.

The rubbish from inside the classroom is then distributed into large trash cans in the hallways of each floor of this school. The pattern is also the same: the rubbish is put in according to its category and ready to be processed by the cleaning staff.

Apart from that, in the school yard there is also a waste bank which is the result of collaboration with the Bandung City Main Waste Bank. This waste bank processes inorganic waste.

The organic waste here is processed into compost through Loseda. The remaining food from the provisions in the food container was then thrown into the Loseda hole located behind the school building.

Then, the leaf waste is collected into material for compost.

The Principal of Pelita Fajar Elementary School, Apriany Listarida, said that the habit of sorting waste needs to be taught to children from an early age. According to him, this is very important so that children can apply it into adulthood.

"So, we have made it a habit since we were little. We hope that later these children will get used to sorting waste," he said.

Apriany admitted that the waste selection pattern at Pelita Fajar Elementary School makes the school environment cleaner. Moreover, inorganic waste here has been distributed to waste banks.

"Later it will be transported by the waste bank (Main Waste Bank). We also have a savings book," he explained.

Apart from processing waste, SD Pelita Fajar also implements environmentally friendly infrastructure arrangements. One of them is building water absorption which will later be utilized by new springs.

"Even though we are in an area prone to flooding, thankfully, the drainage here is good. There is also a control tank below that we can check at any time," he said.

In conclusion, Apriyani invited all educational activists in particular to get children used to sorting waste from an early age.

"Let's get our students into the habit of throwing rubbish in its place, according to its type," said Apriany. (ray)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Information Office

Yayan A. Brilyana