The Ocean Plastic Prevention Accelerator (OPPA) selected Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest metropolitan city, as a starting point in 2019 to implement ecosystem building activities due to its plastic waste problem and existing presence of waste management stakeholders. In three years, OPPA expanded its reach beyond Surabaya to the wider province of East Java, convened a nation-wide network, and partnered with the World Economic Forum to hold an Innovation Challenge.

This year, OPPA returns to Surabaya to support the Surabaya Environmental Agency’s (DLH Surabaya) Climate Village Program (Proklim). Currently, DLH Surabaya is facilitating 15 community units throughout Surabaya so they can fulfill the requirements to be awarded for their climate change mitigation efforts. Local waste banks in each of those community units play a pivotal role in this government-run program. OPPA, in partnership with the Surabaya Central Waste Bank, supports the Proklim program by providing tailored capacity improvement to 15 chosen waste banks.

Meet the program participants:
Bintang Mangrove Waste Bank
Bunakem Waste Bank
Mawar Waste Bank
Citra Sumber Rejeki Waste Bank
Blimbing Wuluh Waste Bank
Genah Urip Waste Bank
Berlian Waste Bank
Pucuk Cantik Waste Bank
Grasitu Waste Bank
Gadiss Waste Bank
Cintamu Waste Bank
Rukmi Waste Bank
Branjangan Waste Bank
Ahong Waste Bank
Sumber Danan Waste Bank
Based on the result of a needs assessment, program participants will be given workshops with topics ranging from strengthening waste bank management & operations, administrative reporting, financial management, fundraising, digital tools, public speaking, and waste sorting techniques. OPPA will also provide opportunities for the program participants to connect with waste management and recycling stakeholders in Indonesia.
Stay tuned for more updates from this six-months long program!