Batangtoru, 6 June 2023 – With the operation of the waste sortation facility, PT Agincourt Resources(PTAR) successfully increased the recycling volume of plastic waste in 2022 by up to 64% compared to the previous year and was able to decrease the volume of residual waste placed at the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) of Aek Sirara as much as 11%.
This data shows the big effort of PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), the operator of Martabe Gold Mine, in treating plastic waste independently through the waste sortation facility/WSF built in October 2022. Meanwhile, the reduction in the volume of residual waste or untreated waste placed in the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) of Aek Sirara, Batangtoru, South Tapanuli, shows PTAR’s contribution to reducing the waste volume in South Tapanuli. This practice is in line with the spirit of the 2023 World Environment Day carrying a theme of “Solution for Plastic Pollution” with a target to end plastic pollution on earth.
General Manager Operations of PTAR, Rahmat Lubis, said that the Company continues to put various efforts into reducing plastic waste and recycling towards sustainable waste management through waste sortation at the WSF, cooperating with local waste bank groups, and conducting a campaign to employees and work partners to reduce the consumption of plastic goods and packaging.
“We believe that we can continue to put efforts intoplastic waste pollution decrease and move forward in creating safe and healthy environment. We also continue to invite all of us to play a role together to reduce the plastic waste production from both personal activities and our mining operational activities,” he said.
Such a statement was conveyed during the event of the Commemoration Opening of the World Environment Day and Tree Planting at Martabe Gold Mine, Monday (5/6/2023). In the event, there was the Environmental Agency Head (DLH) of South Tapanuli Ongku Muda Atas, Head of Batangtoru Subdistrict Mara Tinggi Siregar, representatives of Sectoral Police Force ofBatangtoru, representatives of the Sector Command of the Military (Koramil) 01/Batangtoru, and Head of Aek Pining Kelurahan Hendra Sakti Siregar.
The Head of the Environment Agency of South Tapanuli, Ongku Muda Atas, praised PTAR’s efforts in managing plastic waste so that we can contribute to reducing the waste volume in South Tapanuli. In his word, around 15% of the waste produced in South Tapanuli is plastic waste.
“Our 15% challenge can collaborate with all stakeholders in South Tapanuli to reduce the plastic load in South Tapanuli. We appreciate PTAR’s efforts in reducing plastic pollution to reduce the plastic volume in South Tapanuli,” Ongku said.
He also appreciated PTAR which has carried out circular economy practices through various effort utilization and campaign that are so far conducted by PTAR, including waste sortation at the WSF.
Previously, on 3 April 2023, the Cooperative of Imajinasi Cerdas Berkarya, assisted by DLH of South Tapanuli and PTAR operating the WSF, launched Waste Bank of Naposo Hamubaon in Wek IV Village, Batangtoru. PTAR hopes this waste bank activity can make Batangtoru Subdistrict clean from waste and support the program development of social entrepreneurship-based waste management.
In the Commemoration Opening of World Environment Day, PTAR planted 130 saplings within the operational area of Martabe Gold Mine. The planted saplings are cempedak air, durian, jengkol, mangosteen, jambu bol, avocado, and local seeds. In addition to tree planting, a series of activities were held, among others were the National Environment Seminar, Waste Bank Ecopreneurship Competition, Competition of Environmental Project Innovation, Environment Quiz, and Virtual Run with a theme of “Great Step to Green PROPER Challenge”.
To support sustainable environmental management, up to the end of 2022 PTAR rehabilitated a land as large as 34.6 hectares. Approximately 39 hectares of land will be rehabilitated throughout 2022 to 2026. In addition, in 2022, 20,000 seed balls were spread and 12,000 saplings were planted. Throughout 2023, PTAR puts a target to plant 6,250 saplings in a mining area and 30,000 saplings outside the mining area.
