Pertamina Integrated Terminal Balongan Cultivates Maggot to Overcome Organic Waste

Indramayu, December 8, 2021 – PT Pertamina Patra Niaga West Java Region through the Integrated Terminal Balongan officially launched the Bank Sampah Berseri Program in Langgen Desa Singaraja Block, Indramayu District, Indramayu Regency, Thursday (2/12).

This Bank Sampah Berseri Program is a breakthrough from PT. Pertamina Integrated Terminal Balongan, which was launched in 2021 as an effort to empower the community, began with the absence of a final waste disposal site in Singaraja village, both marine and household waste, resulting in burning the waste. Disposal of waste in rivers or piled up in one place, causing several diseases related to poor sanitation.

It is hoped that this waste bank program and its socialization, can be the first step for residents of the Langgen block in Singaraja village to manage waste wisely. Later, organic waste will be encouraged to be bioconverted into maggot cultivation.

Maggot itself is a type of caterpillar that can decompose organic waste quickly. On the other hand, maggot has recently become increasingly popular for cultivation, besides being the prima donna of animal feed, maggot is very effective in reducing the volume of waste. From maggot cultivation, later it will be produced as derivative products that also have economic value, such as POC, Eco Enzym, and dried maggot for fish feed. Meanwhile, inorganic waste is used as waste savings.

At the inauguration, the Data Manager for Prevention and Monitoring of the Environmental Service of Indramayu Regency Kusnadi S.Hut., MSi, representatives of the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indramayu Subdistrict Head, Singaraja Village Kuwu, Pertamina workers, Wiralodra University students, Waste Bank Group, Langgen Fishermen Group Jaya, and Representatives of the Langgen Block Residents were present.

In addition to the program launch, the event continued with mangrove planting. This reforestation activity aims to create a greenbelt for Langgen block which often experiences tidal flooding and abrasion. Pertamina Integrated Terminal Balongan's commitment to reforestation and mangrove planting has been carried out since 2018 until now.

Kusnadi from the Environmental Service stated that the Bank Sampah Program is an important program for Langgen residents to continue maintaining environmental sustainability, especially Langgen is close to the sea, a lot of marine waste that damages and clogs, tidal floods also often occur.

"This Bank Sampah Program is expected to teach the community to sort and save waste, as well as raise awareness of the Langgen block community so that it can empower the community and improve people's quality of life, especially when there is an increase in the socio-economic community," said Ratno Rohanda, Acting Integrated Terminal Balongan Manager.

The community is greatly helped by this waste bank program and it is hoped that it will be a start for the Langgen block residents to protect the environment and health. But not only that but more importantly the economic impact.

Separately, Area Manager Communication Relations & CSR for the West Java Region, Eko Kristiawan expressed his appreciation to the Integrated Terminal Manager Balongan for the launch of the program. "This Bank Sampah Program is a manifestation of the company's concern to continue maintaining environmental sustainability, with the hope that the community will be more concerned and responsible for protecting the environment in their area together," said Eko.**