PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - West Java Regional Secretary (Sekda) Herman Suryatman said the key to waste mitigation starts from the household level. Therefore, community participation is needed so that waste can be reduced, utilized by recycling.

Herman said this while giving direction at the focus group discussion 'Evaluation of Waste Mitigation Efforts in the Citarum River', at The Papandayan Hotel, Bandung City, Tuesday (12/11/2024).

"The best way to process waste is by utilizing and recycling it," said Herman Suryatman.

"I think this (waste) is a shared problem, and even a shared challenge, and could be a shared potential, if we are willing to manage it wisely," he added.

In particular, Herman continued, food waste should be sorted and processed as much as possible at the household level.

Moreover, there are currently a number of methods that can be chosen to manage food waste. For example, utilizing maggots, composting, or other utilization methods.

"Don't let Bandung become a sea of garbage, don't let Citarum be full of garbage, we act now, if not now, when, and we start from ourselves, if not us, who else," said Herman.

Herman Suryatman there are four areas that use Sarimukti TPA, namely Bandung City, Bandung Regency, Cimahi City, and West Bandung Regency. He hopes that each region can reduce the volume of waste shipments and it starts from the household level.

"Actually, trash is money, trash is something that has value if we can use it wisely," he said.

Head of BBWS Citarum Dian Al Ma'ruf said that the waste problem is not only the government's business, but is a shared responsibility.

"Waste must be our common concern, because the government is also powerless if it is not supported by the entire community," he said.