Damai Mendrofa, Chair of the Yamantab Waste Bank, stated that the achievement of producing 10,000 ecobricks is tangible evidence that community habits can be changed gradually. This milestone represents the first achievement of the “From the Heart for the Earth” Ecobrick Program, launched by PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) in 2025.

“Previously, household plastic waste was simply discarded. Now, community members collect it, sort it, and pack it into ecobricks. The result is something we can all see today: a park that can be enjoyed by the community,” said Damai during the official opening of the Ecobrick Park in Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, on Tuesday (June 30, 2026).

Beyond serving as the foundation of the park, thousands of the ecobricks have also been utilized as signage for Martabe Cocoa and Martabe Farm—PT Agincourt Resources’ local economic development initiatives located near Sopo Daganak.

This plastic waste collection and ecobrick production initiative involved the Yamantab Waste Bank and four other local waste banks in Batang Toru: Gocap, Satahi, Naposo Hamubaon, and Rap Hita Paias.

Katarina Siburian Hardono, Senior Manager Corporate Communications of PT Agincourt Resources, described the Ecobrick Park as a symbol of the circular economy principles that the company seeks to build together with local communities. Local waste banks have been actively involved in the initiative, with three of them are currently partners in the company’s community development program.

“The Ecobrick Park is more than just the result of plastic waste management; it is proof that meaningful change can begin with simple actions taken collectively. For us, the success of this program is measured not only by the number of ecobricks collected, but also by the growing awareness and habits within the community to manage waste independently and sustainably,” she said.

Communities Take Part in Environmental Monitoring

In addition to engaging communities in environmental conservation efforts, PTAR also encourages community participation in environmental monitoring. Within the conservation areas, a 14-member SMART Patrol team—some of whom are former hunters and illegal loggers—conducts daily patrols in the Aek Pahu and Ulu Ala Conservation Areas.

One of the team members, Parman Sitanggang from Wek 4 Village, has been working to protect the conservation area for nearly two years. He used to collect timber and hunt in the same area. During patrols, he records everything he observes in the field, including wildlife, signs of illegal logging, and hunting activities.

“If we find wildlife, logging activities, or signs of encroachment, we simply take a photo and record it in the application along with its coordinates,” he said.

On the other hand, monitoring the quality of treated water from the Martabe Gold Mine that is discharged into the Batang Toru River also involves representatives from communities in villages surrounding the mining area. One of them is Ali Marhot Siregar. A resident of Hapesong Baru Village, he has been part of the integrated water quality monitoring team since 2024.

“Water samples are collected from several monitoring points every month and then tested by an independent laboratory in Jakarta. The results are announced to the public every three months,” he said.

In addition to the opening of Ecobrick Park, PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) marked World Environment Day 2026 by organizing a Mangrove Conservation Clean-Up Action and an Artificial Coral Reef Construction Training program in Central Tapanuli, involving both community members and employees.

END

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Since its launch from July to December 2025, the programme successfully collected 10,000 ecobrick bottles, equivalent to reducing approximately 2.5 tonnes of plastic waste from the environment. Thousands of these bottles have now been transformed into the Ecobrick Park at Sopo Daganak, as well as visual installations at Martabe Cocoa and Martabe Farm, serving not only as landscape features but also as educational spaces that remind people that plastic waste still holds value when managed through creativity and collective action.

The success of this programme reflects the active involvement of various stakeholders, including schools, waste banks, local government, media, and communities working together to build new habits in responsible waste management.

In his remarks, Senior Manager Processing Agincourt Resources, Altur Tambun, emphasised that the programme’s greatest achievement lies not merely in the number of ecobricks collected, but in the growing shared awareness that protecting the environment must begin with consistent everyday action.

This same spirit is reflected in the inspiring journey of SMP Negeri 1 Batang Toru, which successfully earned recognition as an Adiwiyata School through various initiatives aimed at building a strong culture of environmental responsibility within the school community. One of the practices continuously developed is the use of ecobricks as part of waste management education while instilling environmental awareness from an early age.

Another inspiring story comes from Sri Wahyuni, a community member who has demonstrated that waste management can also create new economic opportunities. Through her creativity, discarded packaging waste that once had no value has been transformed into products such as bags that carry both functional and economic value for the community.

Through collaboration involving communities, educational institutions, waste management groups, and the Company, Agincourt Resources continues to encourage real action aligned with the spirit of World Environment Day 2026 under the theme It’s Time to Work for Climate. This programme demonstrates that protecting the planet does not always begin with grand actions, but rather with simple habits carried out together and continuously nurtured into sustainable change for future generations.

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