What is it?
BGBJ translates to "The Seeds of Bantar Gebang". Every day, 6000 tonnes of Jakarta's rubbish is dumped at Bantar Gebang landfill. BGBJ serves the families who make a small income from salvaging valuable materials from this waste, such as plastic, paper, metals, glass, and ewaste. BGBJ is a unique community asset functioning as both a hostel and a hub, a place that serves both visitors and the local community.
Our community faces a number of daily challenges at the landfill. These include poor quality housing, a lack of sanitation, work-related injuries and illness, and an unpleasant living environment. The low income nature of waste picking and a lack of skills and education reduces the opportunities available to working families. Many parents decide to keep their children from school as they work to supplement the family’s income.
We believe that children and young people are the seeds for a positive future at the landfill. BGBJ provides education, training, assistance, food and fun for kids who lack access to these resources. With education and skills training, we aim to provide alternatives for young people, giving them the tools and knowledge to break the poverty cycle and create a healthy and safe environment for themselves and their families.