How the Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau App is making a difference.
Since its launch in 2017, Project STOP – a groundbreaking initiative co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq – has been on a system-change mission to prevent plastic waste from leaking into the environment. At its core, the program focusses on providing sustainable and affordable waste collection to communities in Indonesia, creating local jobs and turning waste into a valuable raw material for recycling.
With the Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau expansion this mission has reached new heights in the Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia, creating even bigger impact. The initiative aims to enable healthier communities and a cleaner environment in Banyuwangi by implementing Indonesia’s first circular waste management system at Regency-level - and, for the first time, by introducing an innovative smartphone app that makes waste collection more efficient.
The Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau App was developed in collaboration with Accenture Song. The app improves waste collection by making the process smarter and faster for both the waste operators and the participating communities. By saving time and effort, the roll-out team can focus on what matters most: building a sustainable future for Banyuwangi and a model that has the potential to be replicated across entire Indonesia.
Empowering waste operators with smarter tools
The Project STOP team and the local waste operators play a critical role in signing up residents, collecting fees, and educating communities about waste separation for recycling.
To enhance their efforts, an intuitive Android app was developed to seamlessly connect residents who need waste collection services with local collectors. This app is specifically optimized for most commonly used devices, including small screens and for areas with poor internet connectivity, making it accessible to local waste management system staff.
To ensure a robust and user-centric product, comprehensive stakeholder interviews were conducted and a vision and user story mapping was created to define the target audiences and prioritize features. The process began by establishing a clear information architecture and visual language, followed by rigorous assessment and user testing to refine the app.
Before the app, waste collection relied on pen-and-paper methods that were inefficient.
Now, everything is streamlined. With just a few taps, the operators can
Track which households are participating and which need follow-up.
Optimize collection schedules to save time and resources.
Collect and monitor monthly fees and instalments.
Allow electronic payments from residents and institutions.
Scan QR codes for instant data entry, without manual logs.
Track personal progress through dashboards.
Get up to speed quickly with a simple onboarding journey and FAQs.
The result? Less paperwork, more efficiency, and better services for the communities.
In addition, residents can now schedule their preferred fee collection times, avoiding unnecessary visits and optimizing routes for waste operators.
Turning Data into impact
The app is more than just a tool for daily operations – it’s a data powerhouse that fuels smarter decisions for holistic planning. Real-time insights into waste service participation, outstanding fees, and waste volumes allow the waste operators a level of visibility that ensures timely responses to challenges and improves decision-making. With this data-driven approach, Project STOP efficiently scales operations to new regions and improves waste services in participating communities.
In-app achievements keep waste operators motivated, allowing them to track their progress and see improvements over time.
Empowering Communities for a sustainable future
Project STOP is not just about reducing waste. One of the key focus areas of Project STOP is to empower communities through education, combined with the provision of adequate waste collection infrastructure. The two need to be rolled out together, and each needs to be customized to meet local needs.
The app supports Project STOP in rolling out reliable and regular waste collection for communities that no longer have to resort to burning or dumping waste. This is fundamental to ensuring a cleaner environment for generations to come.
Beyond the environmental benefits, Project STOP is also a job creator. The initiative has already created hundreds of full-time jobs, strengthening local economies while tackling mismanaged waste at its source.
Tangible impact
Since its roll-out in villages across East Java and Bali, Project STOP has already delivered impressive results:
nearly 75,000 metric tons of waste collected
provided more than 450,000 people with access to a working waste management system
over 270 new jobs created
The success in initial phases provides a solid foundation for scaling up across Indonesia.
Scaling the Future
As Project STOP expands to new regions, the app will be at the heart of its mission, helping to reach more communities, collect more waste, and drive even greater positive change.
Indonesia is on the path to a circular economy transition, and the Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau App is paving the way.
Comments