JAYAPURA, PAPUA — Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer (DDV) Papua and Disaster Management Center (DMC) intensified the waste cleanup action through the Voluntrip Waste Summit at Holtekam Beach, Muara Tami, Jayapura on Sunday (17/9/2023).
Holtekam Beach is a beach that is a favorite tourist spot in Jayapura City. In addition, this beach also has a series of restaurants and cafes right on the coast of the Youtefa Red Bridge which stretches over Youtefa Bay and connects Jayapura City, Hamadi Village, and Muara Tami District.
This bridge is also the longest steel arch bridge in Papua, and an icon of Jayapura City. But sadly, along Holtekam Beach, there are many piles of garbage scattered around.
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“Therefore, the beach is one of the locations that we chose for the implementation of the Voluntrip Waste Summit Papua for the action of collecting waste and brand audit,” explained Rizky Nopiana as PIC DDV Papua through a short message.
Based on the experience of the team that carried out the waste cleanup action in the field, it was seen that along the coastline there was garbage that was scattered and piled up and had not been properly managed. The garbage is sent from various places carried by the coastal waves, so that it is piled up on the stretch of the Holtekam Beach line.
The enthusiasm of the surrounding community, government, and communities that collaborated with the Voluntrip Waste Summit, made this activity run smoothly. These communities include Jayapura Young Indonesia Forum, Jayapura Deaf Community, Ecodefender, Rumah Bakau, Earth Hour, and LKC Dompet Dhuafa Peer Counselors.
“The waste we collected was around 190 kilograms and from the audit results, the most waste was (bottles of) Pucuk Tea and Qualala mineral water,” Rizky admitted.
“The output of this activity is a public report of plastic type data and companies that are top polluters in several tourist destinations in Indonesia,” he continued.
“In addition, it also produces a Voluntrip Handbook containing data from the brand audit results, which also contains tips on safe and environmentally friendly trips that can be accessed by communities/institutions that focus on environmental issues,” continued Rizky.
The hope is that this activity can foster and provide real experience to the people who have been involved, as well as the growth of good habits to protect the environment. Meanwhile, from the brand audit data obtained in the field, the hope is that there is a concrete responsibility that companies can take to be responsible for the waste they produce.
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“Thank you for initiating this activity,” said Jimmy Wattimena, a local resident who witnessed the Dompet Dhuafa Team’s waste cleanup action.
The flow of the waste audit is to collect waste, sort waste, record waste brands, wash waste, hand over to the waste bank or take it to the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST). This brand audit data will be submitted to Break Free From Plastic and will be combined with the results of brand audits of plastic waste from around the world.
With this action, it is hoped that it will be a savings of goodness and motivation to be wiser in managing the waste produced by each individual. Because the Earth is only one, Empower Now. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC/DDV/AFP)