Community-Driven Solutions to Waste: CLOCC’s Journey in Indonesia

Oda Korneliussen (Top Row, Centre) - Program Manager at Sirk Norge who are coordinating the CLOCC program - reflects on the program’s achievements, challenges, and the lessons it offers for tackling waste challenges and pollution across in rural, coastal communities.

For many communities in Indonesia, waste is burned openly or dumped. Before CLOCC began its work, Oda recalls, “there was no responsible waste management at all. Most of the waste was openly burned or dumped—leading to serious health problems, contaminated rice fields, and a hit to tourism in semi-rural areas with great eco-tourism potential.”

Over five years, the CLOCC team has worked to change that reality, starting at community level: “One of our biggest achievements is that the waste masterplan in Banyuwangi has now become a local regulation, with government commitment to full implementation,” says Oda. “We’ve developed similar plans for Tabanan and are working on one for Tegal, all built around zero waste leakage, resource recovery, and circular economy principles.”

These waste masterplans are not just paperwork. They translate directly into action: better collection systems, upgraded sorting facilities (TPS3Rs), and community-run composting and recycling hubs. “We’ve improved existing MRFs, built new ones where none existed, repaired collection bikes, and introduced source separation systems.

What sets CLOCC apart is its inclusive model. "We don't impose a system. We guide regency governments and communities through their own planning bysetting goals, modeling scenarios, and co-developing solutions,” This participatory approach has proven essential for local ownership. “When the community creates the waste system themselves, complimented by local regulation, the the results are visible in terms of waste management investments and a cleaner environment.”

Engaging with local schools in Tabanan

Engagement has extended far beyond government stakeholders. “We’ve worked with women’s groups to train households, and with schools to turn students into advocates. Kids learn source separation, bring it home, and hold their parents accountable”.

CLOCC has seen strong interest from other regions to collaborate and participate, especially in Java, but limited funding restricts how ambitious the program can be. Scaling requires political will, budget commitments, and donor support to seed programs and build capacity. “Circular and profitable business models must be developed to make the system financially sustainable. Achieving this requires external seed funding and strategic social investments to reduce risks and incentivise participation from commercial actors in the waste management sector” adds Oda.

So what should others draw from CLOCC’s work and experience? “Developing sustainable waste management systems requires a holistic and integrated approach that brings together a wide range of stakeholders. This includes authorities at all levels of government and across multiple sectors, such as finance, planning, environment, waste management, agriculture, and others. A key focus must be on building a complete system, addressing both the physical infrastructure, such as collection, source separation, and processing and the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks. It is also important to remember that you need to design with an exit strategy to make sure the system thrives long after the program ends.”

For Oda and the rest of the CLOCC team, the most meaningful impact has been seeing waste systems take root in communities where none existed before. “It’s particularly impressive see how quickly local partners and stakeholders are establishing local waste management systems in the communities, in areas with previously no option to responsibly treat the growing amounts of waste”.

The CLOCC program has show that when part of a systems-wide approach, that community-driven solutions work. CLOCC is always looking for new partners to help scale-up its efforts. If you would like to explore opportunities, get in touch with Oda Korneliussen directly at: oda.korneliussen@sirknorge.no