Population and economic growth pose another challenge for Samarinda City, which is waste that –if unmanaged- can lead to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Samarinda responds to this challenge through collaboration and innovation.
With a population of 872.000 and a population growth of 1,62% per year[1], Samarinda produces at least 18,881 tonnes of waste[2] every month. To illustrate this, at least each person throws away 700 grams of waste every day. Of the total urban waste, 60% are organic waste from households, paper, and plastic.
Understanding the importance of household-level waste management efforts, the Local Government came up with Jeng Rinda, a programme to recycle used cooking oil. "Jeng Rinda is a demonstration of innovation and commitment our City takes to tackle the environmental pollution starting from the household level. We need to take this programme seriously because it has a multiplier effect on local communities. We can recycle used cooking oil into a product with economic values," said the Mayor of Samarinda a Dr H. Andi Harun, 29 September 2021.[3]
Jeng Rinda is part of the Local Government's Development and Community Empowerment Programme by providing monetary incentives to every neighbourhood that will receive 100 to 300 million IDR each year for collecting used cooking oil. The local government will sell the oil to its private-sector partner that processes it into biodiesel. "I'm optimistic that the Jeng Rinda programme will increase community participation in tackling environmental problems, increase environmental quality and improve economies," said the Mayor.
Climate action in the waste sector
Innovating community-based waste management efforts is imperative, especially when Samarinda faces more frequent floods due to climate change. The City experienced 44 floods incidents from 2011 to 2019; one of the contributors was solid waste blocking the drainage system.[4]
The Second Assistant of Samarinda Regional Secretary Nina Endang Rahayu, M.Kes., said that the City has several community-based waste management initiatives, in addition to Jeng Rinda. Those initiatives are Bank Ramli (an environmental-friendly Waste Bank), Mitra Bersih Generasi Emas (waste to gold saving trade-in), Kampung Salai (added-value waste) and Waste-Free Ambassador. "We also collaborate with the Education Department to promote an Adiwiyata School [5] to build awareness of clean and healthy environment starting from schools," she said during the Human Rights Festival, 18 November 2021.
Samarinda aims to reduce landfill waste by promoting household waste management. The waste sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions has increased from 2014 to 2018, although it is not the major GHG contributor (the main contributors are transportation and energy sectors). The Mayor also signed a commitment to participate in the CRIC Project and prioritise tackling climate change through its waste sector.
In Samarinda, CRIC help increase local government capacities to develop Climate Action Plan by conducting Climate Action Plan training. The first training on the Greenhouse Gas Inventory from 25 to 26 August 2021 sought to introduce the mitigation concept and greenhouse gas calculation. The series of CAP training will take place until 2022 to help local governments develop efficient and effective climate-proof policies and actions.
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[1] Urban Analysis Report: Samarinda, Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities, 2020.
[2] Presentation of the Second Assistant of Samarinda Regional Secretary, drg. Nina Endang Rahayu, M.Kes., in Human Rights Festival, 18 November 2021.
[3] Ayo Kita Sukseskan! Program Jeng Rinda “Jelantah Membangun Samarinda”, Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika Kota Samarinda, https://youtu.be/Ep6Qv_aMqCk, 29 September 2021.
[4] Urban Analysis Report: Samarinda, Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities, 2020.
[5] Adiwiyata School is a national government initiative conducted through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The programme implementation is regulated through the Minister Regulation Number 5/2013 on the Implementation Guidance of Adiwiyata Programme.
