Waste Management Forum in Bandung is a collaborative network initiative that aims to connect cross-sectors stakeholders in order to create a common vision on how to enhance waste management in Bandung City, in aims of restoring its image of “the flower city”. This effort is fostered through informal Forums where every citizen is equally represented, generating friendship and a more fluid and creative collaboration among people from different areas.
The Forum’s initiative started in 2013 from informal lobbies through friendship networks. This aspect was keen to create cross border connections among the government, NGOs, journalists and the private sector. It’s managed to create 9 policy research projects through Bandung’s Government Environmental Agency and 6 policy reports for decision makers and citizenship. It’s also managed to co-develop the waste management masterplan and the municipal mobile application for the citizens to send geo-located information on the waste problem in the region.
The future of the Forum will depend on its ability to keep increasing the initiative’s main resource: its social capital (trust, network and common visions). This initiative can be replicated in every city through the set up of friendship networks and the practice of informal interventions. The sustainability agenda of cities can only be ensured through an active participatory process with all stakeholders.
This is another initiative documented by Towards the Human City.
