Some of our sisters in Yogyakarte visited recently a plastic waste processing facility in their efforts to care for our common home and promote it in their ministries. Sr Inez write of the visit.
On June 24, the FCJ Soropadan community visited the Pyrolysis Plastic Waste Processing Facility in Kalasan, located 20 km east of Yogyakarta. This facility has developed technology to convert plastic back into its basic form: fuel. Miss Dani, the coordinator, mentioned that the machine they have developed is now in its 16th generation. Based in Surabaya, East Java, the agency constantly strives to innovate their technology to address plastic waste. The machine in Kalasan is the 14th generation and can convert 1 kilogram of a specific type of plastic into 1 litre of fuel. The remaining residue is carbon, which is beneficial for the soil. They provide this fuel free of charge to farmers, enabling them to power irrigation pumps.
The price of a model with the capacity to process 5 kg of plastic waste is around 11,500 USD. Each processing cycle for this machine lasts approximately 3 hours.
To tackle plastic waste, Soropadan community has done these things:washing, drying, storing, and sending it to an organization that recycle it into crafts or eco-bricks. However, we realize that these actions only postpone the inevitable moment when the plastic must be buried in the ground.
The pyrolysis technology was truly inspiring. Plastic made from fuel can finally be converted back into fuel again. We returned home filled with hope and eager to share this good news with the residents of Soropadan village. Some neighbours had resorted to burning plastic waste, saying, “What else can we do, Sister?” Now, there is an alternative to burning.
One of the challenges our society faces regarding waste management is that many people are unwilling to take responsibility for their waste. A mindset focused on practicality, convenience, and instant gratification has become ingrained in many individuals. From July 2026 to June 2027, as part of our answer towards Goal V of the Laudato Si’ Platform, Ecology and Education, the Soropadan community will initiate workshops for women in our kampong to raise awareness about plastic waste. Although we recognize that changing this mindset can be challenging, we are committed to addressing it.
