The issue of waste is no longer merely a matter of cleanliness; it has grown into a sustainable development challenge that demands cross-sectoral collaboration. Its resolution cannot rely on government alone, but requires the involvement of universities, communities, and the public as agents of change.
As part of this commitment, 20 Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) students from UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta held an audience and discussion with the Bireuen Regency Environmental Agency (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup/DLH), the Main Waste Bank (Bank Sampah Induk), Perbanusa, and the National Youth Committee of Indonesia (Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia/KNPI) of Bireuen Regency, to strengthen synergy in addressing waste challenges at the village level.
On the occasion, a representative of the KKN students from Uteuen Gathom Village, Dziky Muhammad Azzam, presented the flagship program Rencong Eco-Class as a vehicle for environmental education for the community.
“This program is integrated with follow-up activities including the construction of bio-pores using the Community Participatory Theory Research (CPTR) approach. We are also developing the Eco-Craft programme, which utilises HDPE plastic waste, such as bottle caps, to create various useful products. We hope to collaborate with the Environmental Agency, the Main Waste Bank, and Perbanusa Bireuen in running this programme. Our hope is that the programme will continue even after the KKN period ends, through the support of the DLH, youth organizations, and task forces in Uteuen Gathom Village,” said Dziky.
Meanwhile, a representative of the KKN students from Alue Mangki Village, Naufal Alif, introduced the Eco-Waste program, focused on transforming plastic waste into economically valuable craft products.
“The Eco-Waste program utilizes plastic waste to create various craft products, such as bags and decorative flowers. We are also developing a composter to process organic waste into fertilizer, so that organic waste can be reused and the volume of discarded waste reduced,” said Naufal.
These initiatives align with the perspective of the Bireuen Regency Environmental Agency, which emphasized the importance of building community awareness to sort waste from the source. Education for the public is seen as a fundamental step in addressing the waste problem, a challenge that continues to confront many regions.
The DLH also noted that waste issues have become a serious concern of the central government, with the Ministry of Environment continuing to encourage regional governments to strengthen sustainable waste management systems. One strategic step already taken is granting village governments the authority to manage waste independently in accordance with the potential and needs of each area.
It was further explained that only approximately 25 percent of waste, residual waste that can no longer be utilized or recycled, should ultimately end up at the Final Processing Site (Tempat Pemrosesan Akhir/TPA). The remaining 75 percent is hoped to be managed through sorting, processing, and recycling, both reducing the burden on the TPA and delivering added economic value for communities.
The Chair of KNPI Bireuen Regency assessed these creative ideas as having great potential for development as part of an environmental conservation movement in Bireuen Regency.
“All the creative outputs of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta KKN students will be showcased in an exhibition at the Bireuen Regent's Office Pavilion, witnessed by the community, academics, and government representatives from village, sub-district, and regency levels. We hope the innovations emerging from these students can inspire the community to manage waste in a creative, productive, and sustainable manner,” he said.
This audience marks a first step in building collaboration among universities, regional government, youth organizations, and the community, toward a more effective, participatory, and sustainable waste management system. Through the various programs designed, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta KKN students hope to make a genuine contribution to raising community awareness of the importance of environmental preservation.
The synergy forged among students, the Environmental Agency, the Main Waste Bank, Perbanusa, KNPI Bireuen, village governments, and other stakeholders is an endeavour to ensure the sustainability of these programs beyond the end of the KKN period, so that the innovations that emerge do not remain short-term programs, but grow into a collective movement toward a Bireuen Regency that is clean, healthy, and environmentally conscious.
The waste management efforts initiated by KKN students together with stakeholders also contribute to the SDGs. The programs contribute to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the strengthening of community-based waste management systems toward clean and resilient living environments. The reuse of plastic waste into economically valuable products and the processing of organic waste into compost further support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting circular economy practices and reducing waste generation from the source.
The reduction of waste ending up in final disposal sites and the surrounding environment contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by suppressing greenhouse gas emissions from waste, while supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land) by reducing soil contamination and maintaining the quality of terrestrial ecosystems. Through collaboration among universities, regional government, youth organizations, and communities, this programme is a knowledge-based community service endeavor, serving as a catalyst for change toward more sustainable development.(humassk)