Indonesian village turns trash into energy, creating jobs

A village in Cirebon, Indonesia, is turning household waste into a valuable resource, generating both economic benefits and employment for its residents. In Desa Palimanan Barat, waste is processed into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), an alternative fuel for the cement industry, while simultaneously creating jobs. The waste processing facility, managed by BUMDes Maju Makmur, handles 8 to 10 tons of waste daily. This initiative, a collaboration between the village government and PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa, converts waste into RDF for use in cement manufacturing. "Most people see waste as disgusting, but for us, waste is money, because if processed correctly, it can have high economic value," said Iin Farihin, Head of the Waste Processing Unit. The process involves community participation, with local neighborhood units collecting waste from homes. After sorting and processing, the waste becomes RDF before being sent to PT Indocement. Beyond reducing landfill burden, the facility employs 16 local residents. The local environmental agency supports community-based waste management, encouraging villages like Palimanan Barat to replicate the model. The sub-district secretary expressed hope that this model could be adopted by other villages in Cirebon.

“

Most people see waste as disgusting, but for us, waste is money, because if processed correctly, it can have high economic value.