Occupational Health & Safety Training: Supporting Waste Workers for a More Decent Life

As part of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia’s (CCEP) commitment to managing post-consumer PET bottle waste ethically and sustainably, CCEP and Dynapack Asia established Mahija Parahita Nusantara Foundation (Mahija). The foundation ensures that post-consumer PET sourcing is carried out responsibly while also promoting the welfare of waste workers within the recycling supply chain.

Guided by this mission, Mahija continues to advocate for fair and safe waste management, with a strong focus on improving the quality of life for waste workers. These efforts aim to address the fundamental challenges often faced by waste workers, especially waste pickers, including lack of recognition as citizens and limited access to proper and safe equipment and work environments.

In addition to Mahija’s ongoing programs, the foundation is also the implementing partner of the Responsible Sourcing Initiative (RSI) in Indonesia. RSI is a program initiated by The Circulate Initiative (TCI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution.

The RSI program is designed to ensure that plastic waste management is conducted fairly and responsibly. It involves all actors in the waste management chain—from informal pickers to producers—with the goal of safeguarding workers’ rights at every stage of the process. This initiative sets a global benchmark for ethical recycling practices, prioritizing the wellbeing of waste workers.

Officially launched in October 2024, the project has begun implementation at five Collection Centers within the Amandina Bumi Nusantara ecosystem, located in the Greater Jakarta area and Subang, West Java. One of the key priorities of this initiative is the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training program, specifically designed for waste pickers and waste workers. The program aims to reach over 4,200 waste pickers in key regions.

In the plastic recycling system, waste pickers and waste workers are on the front lines. They play a crucial role in collecting and sorting recyclable materials, yet often do so without adequate health and safety protections.

From early 2025 through June, this OHS training has conducted 18 sessions, reaching 710 waste pickers across various collection centers and waste picker communities in Jakarta, Bekasi, and surrounding areas. These trainings are critical in providing insights into safer and healthier work practices, especially since many participants have been working without proper protection.

During these sessions, participants receive hands-on training from professional medical personnel working in collaboration with Mahija. The training covers topics such as: safe waste handling practices to prevent skin diseases or infections, the importance of using protective gear such as gloves and closed-toe shoes, personal hygiene and workplace cleanliness education, and disease prevention related to exposure to household and medical waste.

More than just training, this program is a concrete step to integrate waste pickers into a more organized, protected, and sustainable recycling system.

Through this initiative, Mahija seeks to emphasize that the responsibility of managing plastic waste extends beyond environmental concerns—it is also about improving the quality of life for the people driving the process.

In addition to the main focus on health and safety, the training also includes sessions on security, financial management, and children’s life planning, as further support to help improve livelihoods.

Together with its strategic partners, CCEP is committed to ensuring that waste workers receive fair protection, are integrated into a more structured system, and have their welfare genuinely taken into account.