Giling Rejeki: BSJ Students Drive Community Change Through Waste Bank Initiative in Bekasi

In Bekasi — home to the Bantar Gebang Final Disposal Site, which receives more than 7,000 tons of waste daily from Jakarta — the scale of waste is impossible to ignore. Inspired by this reality, five students from The British School Jakarta (BSJ) launched Giling Rejeki, meaning “Grinding for Fortune,” a community-based waste bank initiative designed to transform household waste into sustainable economic opportunity. Through Giling Rejeki, Ezra, Preston, Kristopher, Nathan, and Alessandra demonstrated how the knowledge, strategic thinking, and teamwork skills developed at school can translate into meaningful real-world impact. Working collaboratively, they combined sustainability, economics, and education into a practical and replicable community model — showing that purposeful student action can create lasting change.

Since October 2024, the project has grown from just six participating households in Pondok Gede to more than 80 families actively sorting and saving recyclable waste. Through student-led workshops and mentoring, residents developed practical waste management skills and began viewing recyclable materials as a form of savings. Improved systems, structured record-keeping, and the formation of a dedicated local management team have helped ensure the waste bank operates consistently and transparently. Families are now able to generate additional income from recyclable materials, with some setting aside savings ahead of major holidays.

The initiative also extended to education. After fundraising to repair damaged classrooms and leaking roofs, the team supported the reopening of PAUD Cempaka in a safer and healthier environment. Colourful environmental murals and interactive games were introduced to teach children about cleanliness and waste sorting in engaging ways. During a follow-up visit in October 2025, additional BSJ student volunteers joined mural painting activities, led environmental games, and supported simple Maths lessons, reinforcing the importance of building environmental awareness from an early age.

Giling Rejeki was officially launched in June 2025 and has since received national recognition, including features in Kompas.com and Kompas Muda. The team was also honoured with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor of Bekasi, Tri Adhianto Tjahyono, acknowledging their contribution to local environmental action.

Rooted in the principles of Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), Giling Rejeki demonstrates how youth-led initiatives can create tangible environmental, economic, and social impact. With plans to expand into another community and the project now being continued by younger BSJ students, the initiative stands as a powerful example of how sustainable change begins at the community level — and how young people can lead it.