In a modest building standing on the edge of a residential area in Tanah Rata Administrative Village, Banda Sub-district, Central Maluku Regency, residents gathered on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. They came not merely to attend a ceremony, but to witness the launch of the Independent Waste Management Service— a small step that, for this island community, feels like the beginning of a new chapter. In that space, waste management became a shared responsibility to be handled collectively.
This activity was initiated by Bintari, the Tanah Rata Village Waste Management Working Group, together with the Tanah Rata Village Government. In her remarks, Bintari Program Manager, Mega Anggraeni, described this initiative as an initial momentum to realize Tanah Rata Village’s commitment to managing its waste for future generations. The approach used is based on the principles of gender equality, social inclusion, and the involvement of vulnerable groups. In practice, the division of roles has become an important component, with Mama Ena serving as the main sorter, together with Angga and Nalon as waste collectors.
The Head of the Working Group (POKJA), Eda La Djanu, presented the operational scheme of waste management in detail. The collection service operates four days a week: organic and residual waste is collected on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while inorganic waste is collected on Thursday. Out of approximately 190 households, each household is charged a fee of Rp32,000 per month, of which Rp20,000 is paid by residents and Rp12,000 is subsidized by village funds. These funds are allocated for OPS staff salaries, operational costs, maintenance of vehicles and TPS facilities, as well as the management fund reserve. Behind these figures lies the spirit of mutual cooperation of the Banda community, now organized within a governance system that is more transparent, structured, and inclusive.
The atmosphere grew more reflective when KPNA Fitra La Djaharia recalled her childhood, when the beaches were still clear and clean. Now, she said, things are no longer the same. Hope that this change can be replicated in other villages was also expressed by Banda Sub-district Head, Handayani HS, who described Tanah Rata as the first village in the Banda-Maluku area to have an independent waste management system.
The handover ceremony of the building keys and the three-wheeled vehicle, followed by the striking of a gong, marked the official launch of the waste management service in Tanah Rata Administrative Village. The sound of the gong echoed like a new heartbeat for the small village—a symbol of its determination to stand more independently in managing its waste.
Four days later, on Sunday, February 15, the service was fully operational. Officers began collecting waste from 127 customer households while providing door-to-door education. Since late December 2025, education had already been delivered to the community by Tanah Rata behavior change cadres, accompanied by local authorities. Organic and residual waste is transported by officers to the Mangkobatu TPST, while inorganic waste is sorted on-site. Periodically, organic waste management will be carried out within Tanah Rata Village so that only residual waste is transported to the Mangkobatu TPST. The enthusiasm of residents was clearly visible. Women took the lead, vulnerable groups were included, and conversations about cleanliness became conversations about the future. In Tanah Rata, waste management is gradually transforming into a reflection of social change rooted within the community itself.