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"From Waste to Action": Labuan Bajo Youth Take Action for a Waste-Free Future

03 Jun 2026

Amidst the rapid growth of tourism in Labuan Bajo, the waste issue is a real challenge that requires the involvement of all parties, including the younger generation. To address this challenge, the Positive Bajo Program, in collaboration with PTTEP Indonesia and PT. INGRAM, held a Youth Seminar & Workshop titled "From Waste to Action" on May 21-22, 2026.

This activity is designed as a platform for collaboration, learning, and action for the young generation of West Manggarai to become part of the sustainable waste management solution in the Labuan Bajo Super Priority Tourism Destination. The workshop also strengthens the Positive Bajo Program, which has been running since 2024 through a circular economy approach and community-based waste management.

Through seminar, interactive discussions, case studies, and design thinking sessions, participants are encouraged to understand the challenges of waste management in coastal areas and tourist destinations, as well as design creative campaign ideas that can be directly implemented in their communities.

The seminar was attended by 200 participants, including students, youth groups, environmental organizations, volunteers, and sustainability activists. The workshop is expected to generate various initiatives and concrete actions that can strengthen the culture of waste sorting at source and reduce the use of single-use waste in the community.

Director of eLBajo Commodus Polytechnic, Prof. Dr. I Nengah Dasi Astawa, M.Si when opening the Youth Seminar & Workshop activity expressed his gratitude to PTTEP Indonesia and PT INGRAM for their concern and focus on waste management and processing.

According to Prof. I Nengah Dasi Astawa, his institution also focuses on environmental conservation, particularly waste management. "eLBajo (eLBajo Commodus Polytechnic) holds community service every day. This campus is an institution that also handles waste every day. We clean up trash continuously. This institution is small in terms of facilities, but big in ideas and progress," said Prof. I Nengah Dasi Astawa.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Environment and Land Agency (Kadis LHP) of West Manggarai Regency, Vinsensius Gande who was present on this occasion, said that the pile of garbage in West Manggarai Regency reached 157.31 tons per day.

Efforts to reduce waste by 11.85 tons per day, with 49.11 percent of the processing completed, remain focused on the midstream and downstream sectors. The midstream sector handles 37.80 tons per day, or 25.65 percent.

"PT INGRAM plays a key role in waste reduction efforts, in which the informal sector/collectors reduce up to 9.86 tons per day. Meanwhile, the amount directly disposed of at the final disposal site (TPA) reaches 26.27 tons per day," explained Vinsensius.

The Positive Bajo Program believes that young people have a strategic role as agents of change and drivers of public campaigns. With their creativity, collaborative spirit, and social awareness, they are expected to become the driving force behind environmental behavior change in Labuan Bajo and West Manggarai.

PTTEP is a Thai oil and gas company that actively supports various environmental, educational, and community empowerment programs in its operational areas. The company's support for the Positive Bajo Program and the Youth Seminar & Workshop reflects its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to supporting sustainable environmental management, waste reduction through a circular economy approach, and encouraging the participation of the younger generation in creating behavioral changes towards a cleaner and more sustainable environment.