By: Nefa D. Firman and Ciptanti Putri

Despite the rain on the previous day, the distant overcast atmosphere that morning did not diminish the spirit of the supporters of WWF-Indonesia and the activists of Earth Hour Indonesian Community to be actively moving in the Car Free Day (CFD) along Sudirman street to Thamrin street, Jakarta, Sunday (23/02). While holding the sacks that were marked red, yellow, and green, the volunteers from a number of supporting communities of Earth Hour Indonesia began to move in groups, along the CFD areas.
 
For about 5 km long, 60 supporters managed to collect the waste generated by Jakartan during CFD. The trash was then put into each sacks according its category; green label for recyclable waste, yellow label for dry paper waste, and red label for waste that can not be recycled. Meanwhile, about 30 other people took ‘upcycle’ action of turning the unused t-shirt into a shopping bag in an upcycle area on the sidewalk, in front of Menara BCA. There was also a ‘dropbox’ for collecting non-plastic shopping bags that can be reused and would be distributed to the street vendors around CFD area..
 
The activities in Jakarta's CFD that morning was themed as #PlastikTakAsik (#TheUncoolPlastic) and conducted simultaneously on February 23, 2014 in 23 Earth Hour Indonesia supporting cities. There were 22 other cities which supporting and doing a similar action like the one in Jakarta; Banda Aceh, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Tangerang, Jakarta, Bekasi, Bogor, Solo, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Kota Batu, Malang, Sidoarjo, Kediri, Denpasar, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Palangkaraya, and Makassar.
 
The activity was also held in commemoration of Hari Peduli Sampah (the Waste Concern Day) on February 21. To some extent, the waste mismanagement has a big impact on the landslide tragedy in Leuwigajah, West Java, last February 22, 2005, and the floods that recently struck several cities in Indonesia. This action invited the community to be part of the change through a simple, easy, and inexpensive ways, by reducing the consumption of plastic which is each day generating more garbage.
 
""Plastic waste can only be decomposed in 1,000 years. Through this action we invite public to reduce the use of products with plastic packaging, or sorting plastic waste from their homes,"" said Devy Suradji, Marketing Director of WWF-Indonesia to explain the purpose of the action that day. ""It’s really not difficult , if we start from ourselves."" She also stated that the garbage collected in CFD area along the Sudirman - Thamrin street that day would be weighed as WWF -Indonesia research data. While the waste that can be recycled will be sent to the garbage bank.
 
The ‘upcycle’ action drew attention of Jakartans who crossed in the CFD. A volunteer from “Diet Kantong Plastik” (Plastic Bag Diet) movement began the workshop with a brief explanation regarding the creation and cutting techniques. Old t-shirts that had been cut neatly then woven into various unique shopping bags. The workshop participants practiced the new techniques and helped each other during the session. They also invited and encouraged people to join them.
 
""This bag is my creations with a little help from friends in CFD. Finally, I can bring home a new bag!"" remarked Annisa Maulida while showing off her self-made bag. Annie joined in a small group with four members of the scouts from 134 Junior High School, Jakarta Barat. Each of them seemed very keen to make their own creation of shopping bags.
 
Among the volunteers of garbage collecting group, there were Nita Sofiani, Miss Earth Indonesia 2013, and Yossico Stephanie, Miss Indonesia Earth Eco Tourism 2013. Their both participatied were by their own initiative. After assigned to collect waste in the area of Ratu Plaza to Semanggi, Yossico felt that the Car Free Day activities were not yet environmentally friendly. ""Apparently a lot of people are littering everywhere. Many as the results of consuming food or beverage products,"" said Yossico when sharing information with other volunteers.
 
At 9:30 AM all the member of waste collecting group gathered and and weighed the results. A total of 52.35 kg of waste collected along Sudirman street to Thamrin street. Those waste was not included waste already in the trash.
 
#PlastikTakAsik was the second action of four series of events prior to the Earth Hour 2014 celebration. In Jakarta, it was supported by more than 100 volunteers from various communities, such as Jakarta Amateur Astronomy Association, Magic Line, SiDalang, Jumper Parkour freerun, Couch Surfing, Bike to Work, 1001 books, students from  London School of Public Relations, Bakrie University, and Youth Scout. Previously on February 16, 2014, the first action took a theme of public transportation. Two further actions focusing on Save Paper and Tissue Awareness will be held on March 9, 2014, and Water and Energy Saving Campaign on March 23, 2014. The highlight of Earth Hour campaign will be conducted through global action on Saturday, March 29, starting at 20:30 to 21:30 local time.