PT Timah’s Concrete Role in Sustainable Waste Management

PT Timah's Concrete Role in Sustainable Waste Management Across Its Operational Areas

PANGKALPINANG -- PT Timah Tbk continues to strengthen its commitment to community-based waste management. Through its Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) programs, the company actively supports the establishment of waste banks and waste management communities throughout its operational areas.

This initiative is part of PT Timah's efforts to reduce environmental impacts while increasing public awareness about the importance of sustainable waste management.

One example is the company's support for the Tanjung Elok Bersahabat Waste Bank located in Tanjung Subdistrict, Mentok District, Bangka Barat Regency.

Since the early establishment of the waste bank, PT Timah's support has helped strengthen its operations and ensure the sustainability of community-based waste management programs.

Bambang Setiabudi, Deputy Chair of the Tanjung Elok Bersahabat Waste Bank, explained that PT Timah's assistance has been substantial, ranging from providing facilities and infrastructure to initial capital and office rehabilitation.

"PT Timah helped us by providing weighing scales, cleaning equipment, and initial capital to purchase waste from residents. Even our office, which used to be an old village office building, was renovated by PT Timah so it could be used properly," Bambang said.

He added that PT Timah continues to provide support by encouraging its employees to actively deposit their recyclable waste at the waste bank.

In addition, PT Timah also supports the Basayan Berseri Waste Bank (Clean, Healthy, and Neat Fishermen Waste Bank) in the Fishermen Neighborhood II area of Sungailiat Subdistrict, Bangka Regency.

Recently, PT Timah provided a garbage collection motorcycle to improve the waste bank's collection services so it can reach more residents.

Mastura, Head of the Basayan Berseri Waste Bank group, said that since its establishment in 2020, the waste bank has attracted hundreds of customers, most of them from the local fishermen community.

She explained that residents sell their waste to the waste bank, and the value is recorded in a savings book, effectively allowing them to save money.

"We buy waste from the surrounding community, and each deposit is recorded in a savings book. So residents are essentially saving money," Mastura said.

Furthermore, PT Timah also donated a three-wheeled motorcycle to the Nyiur Karya Lestari Waste Bank, managed by an environmental care community group in Lalang Village, Manggar District, East Belitung Regency.

The vehicle is intended to support operational activities for collecting and transporting waste. With this facility, waste management is expected to become more effective, efficient, and able to reach more areas in the community.

"Alhamdulillah, thank you very much to PT Timah for the support. We hope this assistance motivates us even more to serve the community in managing household waste in our village," said Sri Yusmala, Head of the Nyiur Karya Lestari Waste Bank.

According to Sri, they previously could not maximize waste collection from residents' homes due to limited transportation.

"With our limited vehicles, we were only able to collect waste from three hamlets-Sawah, Sekip, and Terang Bulan. With this additional vehicle, we hope to serve more hamlets in the future," she said.