Ungaran – Gondoriyo Village Government, Semarang Regency and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Semarang commemorated Environment Day 2024 by carrying out a river clean-up and waste management discussion on Sunday (2/6/2024). This activity aims to increase public awareness and trigger waste management improvements. A total of 86 people participated in the activity including representatives of the Semarang Regency Environmental Agency, Coca-Cola, BINTARI, environmental volunteers, the Village Government and Gondoriyo residents. The clean-up activity was carried out in two locations, namely around the Senayu River bridge and the rubber plantation. More than five tons of waste had been collected, of which was plastic and fabric waste.
After the river clean-up, participants discussed the sustainability of waste management activities for Gondoriyo Village. Several villagers proposed that the environmental clean-up need to be continued, but other residents asked for more effective follow-up such as establishing a waste collection system, building a TPS 3R, collecting waste fees, and making village regulations.
“The ideas are very good and need to be considered further. Many other villages have made similar initiatives but failed to implement them. Therefore, we need to plan it well,” responded Arisno, Head of Gondoriyo Village. Representing Coca-Cola, Shella welcomed all ideas from participants. She emphasized that waste is the responsibility of the waste producers (MN).