Kutai Kartanegara – PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT) held Recycled Creation training, in order to improve people’s knowledge about household waste recycling, particularly inorganic waste, into handicraft products. It was held in Balikpapan, in cooperation with Kersik Berseri and Darma Bhakti Waste Banks which provided an instructor, Prayitno.

The training was held in Kersik Village’s Public Meeting Hall on Sunday (8/29/2021), attended by 28 members of Kersik Berseri Waste Bank and some housewives from Kersik Village, Marangkayu Sub-district, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. Also present in the opening ceremony were representatives of PHKT Management, Head of Kersik Village, Head of RT (Neighborhood Units) 1 and 2 of Kersik Village, and the Head of Kersik Berseri Waste Bank.

Jumadi, the Head of Kersik Village, expressed his gratitude to PHKT who has provided a solution for improving the community, especially in Kersik Village, through its CSR program. “With this training, we expect that the community can be more self-reliant and innovative. Our people should be strong and solid human resources who share a commitment to care about the environment through waste management,” said Jumadi.

Furthermore, Head of Kersik Berseri Waste Bank, Sumarlin, encouraged people to participate in this PHKT-supported effort. “Let’s all keep training and practicing, and utilize the available operational and administrative equipment, so that our community can be better in environmental conservation, especially in waste management efforts that can provide economic value. Hopefully Kersik Berseri Waste Bank can contribute in improving Kersik Village environment and can be an example of waste management for other villages,” said Sumarlin.

Representing PHKT management, the Officer of ComRel & CID of Zone 10, Asih Soenarih stated that the Recycled Creation Training is expected to motivate people to recycle, which will contribute to environmental sustainability and reduce the amount of waste ended up in the Final Processing Site (TPA). “Economically speaking, there are direct benefits of recycling for the people, i.e. through the production and sale of recycled products such as bags and baskets,” she said.

PHKT, a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zone 10 Subholding Upstream, consistently implements the environment principle of its CSR program and supports the communities near its working area. PHKT’s supports for Kersik Berseri Waste Bank includes: training, provision of operational supporting equipment such as shredder machine, cocopeat machine (chopper and shredder for coconut coir),  60 units of recycling waste baskets distributed in various spots in Kersik Village, and building storage units for waste processing machines and processed waste.