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Toba Regency Government Opens Cheap Market, Buy Food and Pay with Non-Organic Waste

18 May 2022

The Toba Regency Government opened a cheap market for underprivileged communities in Laguboti District, Toba Regency, Wednesday (18/5/2022). For citizens who want to buy basic necessities, they only need to pay with non-organic waste.

According to the Deputy Regent of Toba, Tonny M Simanjuntak, this effort is part of the way the Toba Regency Government helps the community and cleans the environment. "Sometimes we are trivial with this garbage, but with this garbage, we can exchange it into basic necessities at a cheap price. Let's clean ourselves first and then our environment," said Tonny.

Tonny said the Toba Regency Government would like to thank PTTEP Indonesia, Bank Sampah Bersinar Bandung and Tarhilala Garbage Bank for supporting this bazaar. "Let's pick up the ball in socializing this waste bank to the public so that they understand better and know that waste can be exchanged at the waste bank," he continued.

The same was conveyed by the Regional Secretary of Toba Regency, Augus Sitorus. "With this innovation, we hope that the existing waste can be used for our mutual survival, where we can monetize waste and recycle waste," said Augustus Sitorus.

The Head of the Toba Regency Environmental Service, Rajaipan Sinurat, said that this innovation was the first time that had been carried out in Toba Regency. He said that there were 22 waste collection points in Laguboti District.

The basic food items that were exchanged for trash were rice that was initially 60 thousand rupiahs (5 kilos) becomes 30 thousand rupiahs, sugar from 15 thousand rupiahs to 7500 rupiahs, packaged cooking oil from 22 thousand rupiahs to 11 thousand rupiahs, eggs (1 tray) from 46 thousand rupiah to 23 thousand rupiah.

Education and socialization of waste management through this bazaar received appreciation and response from residents. "In addition to getting groceries, which are paid by using garbage, handling waste also makes us live healthy," said Saurma Sibarani, a resident of Laguboti.