The Balantieng watershed in South Sulawesi, rich in biodiversity and known for its clean water, is under threat. Despite being a critical source of drinking water and irrigation for local communities, household waste—especially plastic—continues to pollute the river. Heavy rains carry plastic waste into farmlands, affecting crops such as rice and cloves, and impacting coastal areas, including seaweed farms and marine biodiversity.

Engaging communities in tackling plastic pollution

Plastic waste pollution in the Balantieng River is driven by a lack of awareness and inadequate waste management systems. Waste accumulates in cities, along riverbanks, and on beaches—posing serious health risks when burned, polluting the air, or breaking down into microplastics that enter rivers and seas. Without decisive action, the region’s biodiversity and local livelihoods remain at risk.

With initial support from the Global Environmental Fund SGP-Indonesia, Makara and Ecoton Indonesia collaborate with local women, youth, and schools to promote awareness and implement tangible waste reduction strategies. Our approach integrates training, citizen science, and community-led action to drive long-term, sustainable change.

Achievements to date

💧 Women and youth in six villages trained in water quality monitoring and environmental advocacy.
💧 Students from three schools presented research on microplastic pollution to the Bulukumba Regional Parliament.
💧 1,000 trees (soursop, salam, durian, ketapang, and bamboo) planted in Bulolohe Village to restore river buffer zones.
💧 Waste-free zones established in multiple villages.
💧 A community-led waste separation program initiated in Batukaropa.
💧 Two villages launched refill stores operated by women’s groups to reduce plastic waste.
💧 Four villages allocated Dana Desa (Village Funds) for waste management facilities.

Community leadership and partnerships

Building on this foundation, we continue working to expand and sustain these efforts, focusing on training women as Zero Waste Promoters. Women play a crucial role in household waste management and have the potential to drive broader community change. By equipping them with skills and leadership opportunities, we ensure that waste reduction efforts are deeply rooted in the community and sustained over time.

Our approach

Empowering women to engage others in protecting the watershed

We train women to engage their communities in plastic waste management and promote zero-waste practices. They learn about the impact of microplastics on community health, livelihoods, and biodiversity. Training includes:

💧 Measuring water quality in the river.
💧 Microplastic analysis of water samples.
💧 Conducting waste audits.

Strengthening the capacity to develop and propose community-based solutions

Through advocacy training, coaching, and the promotion of reusable alternatives, we empower women’s groups to develop practical, community-driven solutions to reduce plastic waste in their villages, including:

💧 Training and implementing communal composting and organic farming.
💧 Piloting segregated waste collection systems.
💧 Distributing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics—such as reusable water jugs and dispensers—to reach students and women.

Green business development – Refill stores

We support the creation of eco-friendly businesses by training women in green business development, product creation, and marketing:

💧 Women-led refill stores help minimize plastic waste by offering bulk goods and reusable alternatives, creating accessible waste-reduction solutions.
💧 Sustainable product training equips women with skills in eco-friendly business development, marketing, and organic agriculture.
💧 Community composting initiatives process organic waste into compost, benefiting local farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
💧 Financial assistance, including seed funding and revolving funds, supports the growth of environmentally conscious businesses, ensuring their long-term viability.

Local government collaboration

We work closely with local authorities, advocating for better waste management systems, including improved waste separation, collection, and composting programs. Our advocacy efforts contributed to the issuance of a Bulukumba Regent’s circular that guides village governments in limiting single-use plastics. We continue to work with local authorities to ensure lasting change.

Monitoring & impact sharing

We assess baseline conditions, track progress, and evaluate the impact of our initiatives—ensuring transparency and sharing results with stakeholders to drive continued change.

Join us in building a cleaner, greener future—one community at a time!