West Java Schools to Integrate Waste Sorting into Science Classes
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- West Java, Indonesia, will soon require all high school students to collect and sort waste.
- This environmental practice will be integrated into science classes, with waste management becoming a condition for educational subsidies.
- The provincial government is also preparing a regulation with penalties for littering and has partnered with industrial waste management companies.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced that high school and vocational school students in the province will soon be required to collect and sort waste as part of their environmental education. This initiative, inspired by Bandung Islamic University's successful waste management program, will be integrated into science practical lessons.
Later, I will enforce it for all high school and vocational school students in West Java, because this level is under provincial authority. Collecting and sorting waste will be part of the science practical learning.
The governor stated that waste management will become a condition for schools to receive educational subsidies. Schools must demonstrate their ability to sort and process organic and inorganic waste into useful products. To support this, the provincial government has partnered with industrial-scale waste management companies to recycle the sorted waste.
Thank you to Unisba for initiating this excellent waste management program, which is even equivalent to 10 credit hours.
Furthermore, the provincial government is preparing a gubernatorial regulation to prohibit indiscriminate waste disposal, which will include administrative fines and penalties for offenders. The announcement was made during the Jabar Berseka (Clean, Healthy, Tidy, Beautiful) Readiness Rally, attended by over 4,000 participants, including Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan.
I have already cooperated with an industrial-scale waste management company. So, the waste that has been sorted at school will be directly transported to the recycling company.
Minister Zulkifli Hasan praised West Java's proactive approach, emphasizing that waste management is a shared responsibility. He urged for strict regulations and synergy among all levels of government and the public to resolve waste issues at their source, expressing confidence that 80% of national waste problems could be addressed by 2029 through collective effort.
Finally, I will create a gubernatorial regulation prohibiting indiscriminate waste disposal, where violators will face fines or punishment.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.