EAST BELITUNG -- Waste management remains a serious issue that directly impacts the environment and public health. In response, PT Timah Tbk has shown its commitment through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program by donating a three-wheeled motor vehicle to the Nyiur Karya Lestari Waste Bank.
The Nyiur Karya Lestari Waste Bank is managed by a community group concerned with environmental sustainability in Lalang Village, Manggar Subdistrict, East Belitung Regency, in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province.
The donation aims to support the group's operational activities in collecting and transporting household waste. With this facility, waste management is expected to become more effective, efficient, and reach more areas within the village.
Sri Yusmala, Head of the Nyiur Karya Lestari Waste Bank, expressed her gratitude for the vehicle provided by PT Timah, a member of the Indonesian Mining Industry Holding MIND ID.
"Alhamdulillah, thank you so much PT Timah for the support. We hope this donation will motivate us to serve the community better in managing household waste in our village," said Sri.
According to Sri, the waste bank has struggled to operate optimally due to a lack of vehicles. Out of eight hamlets in Lalang Village, they’ve only been able to serve three, often experiencing delays in waste collection that impact service quality.
"With our limited vehicle capacity, we’ve only been able to collect waste in three hamlets—Sawah, Sekip, and Terang Bulan. With this new vehicle, we hope to expand our coverage and serve more hamlets," she said.
In addition, the group, which has been running for five years, hopes to receive more knowledge and training in waste management so they can make better use of the waste they collect.
"Right now, we only sort and collect waste that has resale value, such as plastic bottles and cans. We haven’t managed to process other types of waste because we lack the knowledge or skills, like making compost or breeding maggots for animal feed. We hope PT Timah can help by providing training, so we can turn waste into something valuable and environmentally beneficial," Sri added.
Meanwhile, East Belitung Environmental Agency Head Novis Ezuar appreciated PT Timah’s support, noting that the donation was much needed—especially because their old three-wheeled vehicle often breaks down, disrupting operations.
"This new operational vehicle will help their work run more smoothly, allowing for better waste management," he said.
He acknowledged PT Timah’s strong commitment to both the environment and local communities, such as in Lalang Village. PT Timah also actively engages in reforestation and mangrove planting in coastal areas.
"We hope PT Timah continues to support community activities like this—not only in Lalang Village but also across East Belitung," he added.
Currently, only two villages in the region—Lalang and Penyampak—actively manage household waste. He hopes more communities will get involved and eventually generate economic value from waste.
"Waste management is a shared responsibility. With community-based initiatives like this waste bank, we are greatly assisted. We also hope these activities bring not only economic benefits but also environmental improvements, by transforming waste into useful products like compost," Novis said.
Lalang Village Head Muhammad also hopes the new vehicle will improve services for residents. Currently, only three hamlets are served, but with this additional vehicle, they plan to expand coverage to two more.
"Hopefully, this assistance will allow us to serve more areas. That way, our residents will no longer dispose of their household waste in inappropriate places, and we can reduce the negative impact," he said.
"Thank you, PT Timah, for helping our community and our environment. We hope PT Timah continues doing good, not only for Lalang Village but also for communities across Indonesia," he concluded.
This initiative is part of PT Timah Tbk’s ongoing commitment to environmental preservation and empowering communities to manage waste independently and sustainably.
