Waste Plastic Bags Recycling

Termination of employment is not the end for the Ummah Daeng Ne'nang (48). Dismissed as an employee of a company rattan in Makassar, South Sulawesi, seven years ago, became a blessing for him. For the Ummah, this is just the beginning of a more promising life.

At that time, in 2005, opened the way for him to establish Scavengers Care Foundation. Later, with her husband, Abdul Rachman Noor (60), the initiative that established the foundation to pursue her business making plastic bags of garbage that was involved friends scavengers from the foundation.

The idea to create a bag of plastic waste arises when Ummah watching a show of skills at one television station. In the event, some crafters demonstrate the manufacture of plastic bag use dish soap, soy sauce, cooking oil, clothing softeners, or instant noodle.He is attracted by skilled hooked since childhood.

Although only elementary school up to grade III, son of the 2nd of the seven brothers have a talent of the most prominent compared to the older and younger siblings. Since the age of five years, the Ummah be able to weave as he often did the mother. He also always fill his spare time while still working at the company with a wicker sewing doll clothes from wool yarn.

Ummah would not waste an opportunity to process plastic waste.He asked for the scavengers who are members of the foundation to supply waste. The lure of wage of Rp 3,000 per kilogram (kg) was able to attract scavengers that have been considered one eye plastic waste.

"This is also a positive impact on the environment because plastic waste is difficult destroyed," said the Ummah who lives in Jalan Raya Batua XIV No. 12, Makassar, Monday, mid-May 2010.

She and her husband had agreed to label their products, "dear bag environment", according to the original purpose of both to act and protect the environment rather than seeking profits from the sale of bags.

Ummah then pick up a few neighbors to wash the plastic waste that has accumulated in front of his house. To 1 kg of plastic waste that washed, they hired Ummah USD 2,000 per person. The plastic waste that has been dried and then stitched using a sewing machine purchased from the proceeds of Ummah joint venture with her husband.

For the sake of continuity making this bag, conjure Ummah type 36 houses owned by his family home to the foundation office at the same time and place bag production. One bedroom measuring 3 x 4 square meters used as a sewing bag Ummah. In the manufacture of bags, Ummah assisted by two female former scavengers who have been taught to sew.

At first, the Ummah to make school bags and tote bags are sold for Rp 40,000 per piece. Within a month he was able to sell at least 50 bags. It was thanks to the persistence of the Ummah around settlements or government agencies to offer a homemade bag. At that time, the turnover achieved by the Ummah between Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million per month.

Three months later sales had declined bag. Ummah also get inputs to reproduce a model of bags that are made. One of his friends had time to give a gift book called From Trash to Trashion: 25 Creative Waste Plastics (2009) Herianti works to enrich the knowledge and the creation of the Ummah.

The book was inspired Ummah to make various kinds of products from plastic waste, such as laptop bags, travel bags (travel bag), briefcase (for folders and archives), a raincoat (for children and adults), aprons (current body armor cooking), and wallets. The product is sold starting from Rp 20,000 to Rp 100,000 per fruit.

This innovation makes Ummah increasingly confident offering homemade products to government agencies. Product briefcase homemade quite interested in a number of seminars held by the government.

"I quite often receive orders 100 to 200 which I sell briefcase Rp 25,000 per piece," said the Ummah. As for other products offered through the help of the scavengers who are also into "sales" when looking for used goods daily.

Join exhibition

Increasing sales helped boost the prestige of the product of artificial plastic garbage Ummah. He began to get the opportunity to participate in a small industrial exhibition and exhibition-related eco-friendly products since two years ago.

While following the exhibition that was held the Office of Industry and Trade of South Sulawesi, Ummah get help five sewing machines from South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo. It is used Ummah to develop business.

He also pointed to the eight employees of the scavengers who fostered or neighborhood residents to work on various plastic bags. Within a month they are targeted to produce at least 500 products. Each employee received wages 30 percent from each item sold.

With profit-sharing mechanism, the Ummah be able to pocket the turnover up to USD 3 million a month. That number could be higher if he receives an order briefcase to a seminar held local government.

Gait Ummah in the business banking side finally got the confidence. Recently, she obtained a bank loan business capital of South Sulawesi Rp 20 million. The funds will be used Ummah to strengthen business activities given up to now market their products do not yet have a clear and definite.

"Sometimes I can go down the turnover up to USD 1 million a month because of the lack of assistance in marketing their products," said the Ummah. He hoped that the role of the South Sulawesi provincial government to introduce this plastic waste products into national and international markets.

"I believe overseas markets will respond positively because it has to offer environmentally friendly products," said Abdul Rachman.Love the environment by buying a "bag of environmental care" style of this Ummah.