Managing Waste Bank out of Concern
Cannot stand watching the litter all around her. By empowering the local community, she is gathering plastic waste for recycling. She has acted on her concern over waste by founding the Mutiara Timor Waste Bank in Kupang
Meilsi Mansula, founder and administrator of "Mutiara Timor", a waste bank or waste management in Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur. She shows piles of waste bag, bought from communities. Mutiara Timor buy Rp 1.500 - Rp 6.000 for a kg of waste.
The city of Kupang has been one of the country’s smart cities since 2017. However, this smart city still falls far short of expectations. The waste problem prevails over urban settlements. A lot of garbage litters its roads, public spaces, shopping centers and school compounds.
“I feel concerned about the condition. It is still difficult to cultivate a culture of cleanliness among individuals, families and communities. It takes a long process and time,” Anita, nicknamed “Nita”, said when she was visited in Kupang on Thursday (29/9/2022).