Organic Waste, Solution to Raise Small Business During Pandemic

Kuala Tanjung, 7 Maret 2022 – One initiative in providing local communities with both social and environmental solutions, PT Inalum (Persero) (Inalum Operating) is collaborating with local communities in Kuala Tanjung, North Sumatera, to provide just that.

Dedi Syahputra, better known as Untung, a duck farmer from Kuala Tanjung Village, in Sei Suka, Batubara Regency, is processing the waste from Inalum Operating's canteen into pellets for poultry feed.

Untung explained that 250 kg of pellets, priced at Rp9,500 per kg, are needed to feed his ducks.  Feeding 200 ducks he is raising is costly.  His average monthly income from duck farming and sale of duck eggs come to Rp3 million.

"We sell duck eggs to the small shops in Kuala Tanjung, the demand is quite high here," said Untung.

Untung took the initiative after seeing an opportunity to raise his income through the use of waste from Inalum Operating's canteen. Previously, waste from the canteen’s food was thrown away. Untung now processes more than 230 kg of food waste per day or 6 tons per month, from the company's canteen.

Waste from food or other organic material from the canteen such as rice, unused vegetables, fish heads, chicken bones and fruits are processed by Untung to become poultry feed for his ducks.  He believes that food processed from organic waste is better for his ducks compared to only pellets.

"Organic waste probably contains microorganism beneficial for poultry," said Untung.  "Previously, duck egg production came to only 60 per day, after the poultry feed is combined with organic waste feed, 160 eggs are now produced per day," he added.

Untung's average income increased, from a previous Rp3 million, to Rp9 million per month. Now, he is flooded with orders for duck eggs from the local shops in Kuala Tanjung.  More than that, Untung is also inviting young people in his area to process waste from the surroundings to become products which are beneficial and have economic value.

Aside from waste from catering activities, the local people also utilize organic waste from grass clearing activities in the vicinity of the Company. Inalum Operating’s gardening team is able to collect about 150 kg of grass per day or 4.5 tons per month.

The local people process grass from clearing activities into livestock feed for 10 cows.  This program is subsequently integrated with the annual Eid al-Adha livestock sacrificial needs conducted by the Company.  Both organic waste processing programs are providing benefits for the Company as well as the local people. Aside from the environmental benefits, the programs are also attuned to the productive economic development involving youths.

MIND ID's Director of Operations and Portfolio, Danny Praditya, said that the success of social responsibility and environmental programs conducted by Inalum Operating is based on active collaboration and participation of all parties involved.

"The TJSL (Social Responsibility and Environment) Program conducted by Inalum Operating touches on the environmental, economic and social aspects.  From the environmental aspect, waste is processed into added value products, from the economic aspect, the welfare and social aspects of the local people are raised, stimulated by the formation of new organizations," explained Danny.

The environmental management and social responsibility programs of MIND ID Members have been declared as beyond compliance by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, with the awarding of the Green Proper last year.

"This is Inalum Operating's commitment to support the success of the SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals - from community empowerment, prevention of environmental pollution, processing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, mitigation of environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emission, and optimizing the use of renewable energy sources," said Danny.