Mahija believes that responsible recycling must protect the environment while respecting the role of the people who sustain it. Waste workers, whose roles are crucial but often not given the attention they deserve, are key drivers in Indonesia's plastic collection system. Strengthening their position is not only a matter of justice, but also an important part of building a resilient and ethical recycling ecosystem to support the achievement of a circular economy.
Di paruh pertama tahun 2025, Mahija terus melanjutkan misi ini melalui tiga pilar strategis yang menjadi dasar dari seluruh kegiatan kami:
Through these three pillars, Mahija continues to strengthen the upstream recycling system in Indonesia by engaging waste workers, community partners, and private sector stakeholders.
A key part of our efforts this year was Indonesia's Responsible Sourcing Initiative (RSI), a collaborative project that supports ethical, traceable and socially responsible plastic collection. While RSI presents a larger structure, instrument and scale, this initiative directly reinforces the long-term strategy that Mahija has been executing since its inception.
Catatan Mahija Januari – Juni 2025:
Ethical Waste Collection
We build a collection system that is not only efficient, but also ethical, from the daily operations in the field to how the community participates in the recycling process.
Empowered Waste Workers
Mendukung pekerja sampah bukan hanya soal penghasilan, tapi juga membantu mereka mengakses hak, layanan, dan peluang yang selama ini sulit dijangkau. Kami berfokus pada tiga hal utama: identitas, edukasi, dan kesehatan.
Melalui program Recycle in Action, kami berhasil mengumpulkan 134.897 botol PET dalam berbagai acara publik, sementara empat sesi edukasi lingkungan membantu meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat tentang praktik pengelolaan sampah yang bertanggung jawab. Kolaborasi dengan Collection Centers dan bank sampah lokal tetap menjadi prioritas utama untuk memastikan setiap langkah dalam proses pengumpulan transparan dan akuntabel.
On identity legality and basic services, we issued 111 identity and social protection documents, including ID cards, BPJS health insurance, and birth certificates. We also distributed 851 Ramadan packages and 3,120 iftar packages to support communities during the holy month.
Di sisi kesehatan, pelatihan edukator sebaya kami, Sahabat Sehat Mahija, diperluas ke tiga wilayah di Jakarta, membekali anggota komunitas dengan pengetahuan dan keterampilan untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan.
Untuk anak-anak pekerja sampah, Sekolah Keliling kami telah menjangkau 314 anak, 65 siswa menerima beasiswa, dan 120 anak memperoleh dukungan pendidikan informal melalui sekolah binaan kami, Sekolah Kami.
Engaged Advocacy & Strategic Partnership
Engaged Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships
Through advocacy and collaboration, we encourage a change in the way waste workers are perceived, so that they are increasingly recognized, included and supported, both in policy and practice on the ground.
We maintain continuous engagement with local and national stakeholders to fight for greater recognition for informal waste workers. Our partnerships with the corporate sector, civil society and government have strengthened program implementation and expanded outreach. In addition, we also encourage voluntary community participation in Mahija's various programs, reinforcing collective action towards an inclusive and responsible recycling system.
System Change through RSI
Through RSI, we have introduced various tools and pilot projects to strengthen responsible collection practices, supplier accountability and worker protection.
Key achievements include:
- Uji coba sistem ketertelusuran di 2 Collection Centers
- Program Manajemen Pemasok oleh First Mile
- Uji coba model perwakilan kolektif di 6 lokasi di wilayah Jabodetabek
- Asesmen lapangan dan pelatihan kerja yang lebih aman bagi lebih dari 170 pekerja
This is our story in the first half of 2025, a reflection on the progress made. Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our reach, deepening our impact and ensuring more waste workers get the recognition, protection and opportunities they deserve.
Thank you for supporting Mahija. With your support, we are poised to make an even bigger impact in the second half of 2025.