Amplifying Women’s Voices on Waste Management in the Province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The decree also stated the role of the community, both as individuals and groups, to conduct innovative actions in reducing the waste from their houses and promote the reused and recycled mechanism for the waste. Piyungan’s Waste Disposal Area (PWDA) is an area of ​​12,5 hectares (Ha), built in 1994,  covering all waste disposed of by the districts/cities in the Province of Yogyakarta, which is around 750 tons/day on average. Waste production tends to increase from time to time, from 650 tons/day in 2019 to 1.231 tons/day in 2023, where only around 740 tons/day can be handled and treated in Piyungan, the rest is not clear. In theory, the lifetime of Piyungan is only up to 2012, but in fact, is still used today as there is no other alternative.

In November 2022, the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme facilitated a stakeholders forum meeting, where all parties committed to optimise its role to promote and encourage the self-segregation waste-from-home programme (SSW) in their respective areas. VCA also advocated for the Kelurahan Government and community leaders to monitor and supervise the programme. Since then, the Women Federation (WF), as a key actor in the VCA at the grassroots level, has played a significant role in advocating programme implementation. A collaborative workshop was held as part of The National Waste Awareness Day 2023 inauguration and advocation. In the workshop, WF shared their experience and best practices, particularly from the Gedong Kiwo area, on women’s role and effort to endorse waste segregation action at the household level and an alternative solution to overcome the “emergency” situation on waste management.

VCA also supported the government to extend collaboration with other parties, such as the community, CSOs, universities, media, private sector and others. In a meeting in Aug 2023,  with the Vice Governor of Yogyakarta, VCA, through SPEAK Indonesia (SDI alliance), stated its commitment to support the government to overcome the waste management issues. Head of the Province Environmental Agency, Mr. Kuncoro, said that the Environmental Agency through the Green Jogja Programme expected the waste segregation process to end at the household level. “It will start in 10 villages as the starting and piloting,” said Kuncoro. His Excellence (HE) Sri Paduka KGPAA Paku Alam X (royal title for the Vice Governor) welcomed that initiative and pilot.

One of the 10 villages selected is Sadonoharjo village. To accelerate this programme, the government also welcomed the private sector to participate.  One of them is a multinational company called Astra International (AI). AI allocated IDR 1.250 million (Eur76.000) to improve solid waste management in Sadonoharjo village and support the community-based organisation that manages the solid waste programme at Kelurahan, namely the Brahma Muda Waste Procession Site. AI expected Brahma Muda to be able to reduce waste volume production at the community level as an action to reduce the burden load of Piyungan. In Brahma Muda, the community was trained to implement the reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) concept efficiently andeffectively.

As part of the effort, the province continues to strengthen collaboration with wider parties by opening a penta-helix collaboration approach that involves CSOs/NGOs, universities, media, the community, and the private sector. This initiative is expected to address the waste management issues in at least 10 villages selected as piloting areas. This collaboration is in line with the Green Yogya Programme and the mission of the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, namely zero-waste from village/ kelurahan.