PANGKALPINANG – Used newspapers are usually used to wrap food or even end up in the trash. Not only newspapers, but many other used goods also suffered the same fate. It is still rare to recycle waste into useful goods.
However, in the hands of creative people such as Merlinda, a resident of Jalan Fatmawati, Gang Manggis, Sub-district of Selindung Baru, Gabej District, various used goods can be processed into high-value valuable items.
Realizing that there is a lot of garbage and used goods that are not used properly, Merlinda started to use trash and used goods nearby to make handicrafts in various forms.
Merlinda started a business with the brand 'Rumah Pernik Linda' since 2017, she uses used goods such as newspapers, milk boxes, milk cans, used bottles, magazines, patchwork, calendars, cigarette boxes and bottle caps into beautiful crafts that are useful.
The woman who is often called Linda has produced thousands of handicraft products from used goods. He turns newspaper into wall hangings, tissue boxes, baskets, necklaces, paper bags, pin holders, brooches, tablecloths, piggy banks, and various other types of crafts.
“At first, I was just trying to be a housewife, then I learned on the internet, I practiced. After it was put into practice, it turned out that I couldn't follow it like on the internet, so I finally created it myself because the idea came when I was making it," said Merlinda when she met at Linda's Pernik House recently.
She continues to innovate in processing used goods into various products, even combining them with the potential of Bangka Belitung's marine wealth such as sea shells, beach sand and other goods.
This innovation, she said, is important, so that the product can continue to be accepted by the market, the peak of his business development when he became a foster partner of PT Timah Tbk. At that time, apart from getting a capital loan from PT Timah Tbk, she was also invited to an exhibition to introduce her products at the local and national level.
Not only that, Linda was also invited to study for a comparative study with one of the craftsmen in Yogyakarta. For her, this can increase his insight to continue to innovate using used goods.
“After becoming a foster partner of PT Timah Tbk, I bought raw materials and made this gallery. I was also invited to an Exhibition to Inacraft and several other exhibitions. Including being invited to Yogya for a comparative study to develop products," she said.
For her, it is not too difficult to process used goods, even though the process takes quite a long time. However, she never gave up, because not only does she reduce waste but what she does is an art.
“The products that are most in demand are baskets made from old newspapers, some have ordered hundreds of them for hampers. There are many kinds of baskets, some are plain, some are combined with shells. Alhamdullillah, until now almost all products have a lot of demand, because these are indeed used goods," she said.
"I made the pin holder using a bottle cap that I created with patchwork," she said.
However, she admits, it is currently difficult for her to find used goods, especially newspapers, she said, this is because currently many are turning to digital media. Not only that, there are also many people who do not separate their waste so that it is just thrown away.
“In the past, many gave newspapers, now I buy the newspapers. The price is also decent. Sometimes I look for used goods in the Waste Bank but sometimes they are not there. Because maybe a lot of people have used it,” she said.
Not only that, she said that handicrafts from used goods themselves are very easy to care for so that these used goods are quite in demand.
“I really like it, because processing used goods depends on how we process them. We have to keep up with the times, and there are a lot of fans because used goods have a high value. It's not too difficult to sell it either," he explained.
She hopes that in the future PT Timah Tbk can continue to help MSMEs develop so that more MSMEs are helped by utilizing the potential that exists in the region.
“Hopefully the PUMK program from PT Timah Tbk can continue, because apart from our capital, it is also facilitated for exhibitions. Also given training, this really helps MSMEs," she said.
