The Ocean Plastic Prevention Accelerator (OPPA) created a waste flow mapping tool to verify findings from the Surabaya waste flow map research in 2019. This method provided additional knowledge about the intricacies of the Surabaya waste management ecosystem. The discussions that took place gave valuable insights into how waste management systems are viewed by different stakeholders. A digital version was also created so it can be utilized by organizations in other cities in Indonesia.
OPPA recently collaborated with Waste Community Accelerator cohort 3 participant iLitterless, a waste management organization in Malang, to use the waste flow mapping tool. The two-day event was held to commemorate Global Recycling Day.
The OPPA team was delighted to hold its first hybrid public event of the year. Enthusiasm and anticipation also came from the participants that are made up of seven youths from various student societies in Brawijaya University and Muhammadiyah Malang University.
The tool runs similarly to a snake and ladder game, where each participant chooses a waste piece that represents a type of waste (PET bottle, single-use plastic bag, plastic toy, organic waste, etc.), and a starting point for where the waste comes from (it can be from a household, an office, or a tourist site). A facilitator will roll the dice to determine the number of steps, and using their own experience and knowledge, participants should map the waste movement. The waste will pass through various actors in the collection sector, sorting sector, end market, and disposal.
During the game, participants will also be given cards containing facts, intervention, and challenges that are related to various existing plastic issues, policies, and innovation. These cards will prompt discussions and identify possible relevant solutions to waste problems in the local context.
Lively exchanges were held around the affordability or high cost of zero-waste lifestyle, feedback to the implementation of government regulation, waste sorting campaigns for students, waste burning, capacity building for waste businesses, tax for virgin plastic production, and many more.
Brawijaya University Environmental Engineering student Faqih Ahmad Ghifary shared his thoughts about the activity, “After participating, I gained new insights about waste management and became aware about other perspectives based on the discussions.”
Muhammadiyah Malang University student Nurul Qomariah agreed and commented that “This tool is very cool! I learned a lot about waste flow and ecosystems, and I think this tool should be used more, as currently most people around me just know that informal waste pickers are the only ones collecting waste.”
If your organization or community is interested to learn more about the waste flow mapping tool and how to use it, please contact us (oppa@secondmuse.com), we will be happy to assist!
