Meet Haris.
Haris Sofyan. Photo courtesy of Plastic Bank
Haris Sofyan, a 43-year-old man, has been a Plastic Bank collection member in Bali since April 2021. He resides in Bali with his wife and five children. Previously, Haris and his wife operated a tattoo business. Unfortunately, their house and business were destroyed in a fire incident.
Haris collecting plastic. Photo courtesy of Plastic Bank
Following the incident, Haris sold the remaining items from his house at the Tuti Collection Branch, which accepts various used materials, not just plastic. It was there that he discovered the value of recyclable materials, including plastic. Since then, he has been collecting recyclable plastic along riverbanks and in local neighborhoods, both to make ends meet and because he is passionate about caring for the environment.
On occasion, Haris also enjoys surfing with his son in the sea and simultaneously collects plastic waste at Biaung-Saba Beach in Gianyar, Bali.
Photo Courtesy of Plastic Bank
In a week, he can collect around 70-100 kgs of plastic, which his wife sorts and cleans at home. Haris is delighted to be a part of Plastic Bank because the bonus tokens provided by Plastic Bank help meet his family’s daily needs. When his smartphone fell and got damaged by seawater, he received a subsidized smartphone from Plastic Bank, allowing him to stay in touch with his family.Â
Photo Courtesy of Plastic Bank
He hopes that more people will become aware of the importance of preserving nature and the ocean from plastic pollution.
Haris’ water pump has been broken and they have to use manual well to access water. Recently, he also sold his daughter’s bike to pay for electricity. In August 2023, David Katz brought Moment of Joy to Haris by giving him a water pump and a new bicycle.
Photo courtesy of Plastic Bank
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Busch Systems is proud to support the work of the collector members like Haris through our partnership with Plastic Bank!
To learn more about our partnership with Plastic Bank, click here.
To learn more about Plastic Bank, click here.
View Atmawati’s story on YouTube, here.
