The increasing population of villagers and students at the Islamic Boarding School for Developing Qur’anic Studies (LP3IA), owned by Gus Baha, has led to a significant rise in daily waste accumulation.
This waste buildup poses environmental and health risks for the surrounding community, exacerbated by residents’ unmanaged disposal of cattle manure. An integrated and efficient waste management system is urgently needed to address these challenges.
Currently, the BUMDesa Narukan handles waste management in the area, but its efforts are limited to collecting and disposing of waste at the village’s landfill site without further sorting or processing.
In response to this concern, 21 students from the KKN-PPM Renjana Rembang team developed a master plan for a waste management facility based on the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (TPS3R).
Establishing a TPS3R facility reduces the volume of waste destined for landfills by reusing materials or creating economically valuable products from waste.
“The TPS3R master plan for Narukan Village can act as a catalyst for independent, sustainable waste management planning that promotes economic diversification, community welfare, and environmental protection,” said Dr. Radi, the faculty advisor for the KKN Renjana Rembang team, on Tuesday (Aug. 20).
He added that the TPS3R site is planned on village land just north of LP3IA, which is currently used as the village landfill. If implemented, Dr. Radi hopes for a collaborative waste management effort between LP3IA and BUMDes, which could enhance the TPS3R facility’s productivity.
Tegar Ganjar Gemilang, the KKN team coordinator, stated that the TPS3R Masterplan has been handed over to the village and BUMDes, the key players in waste management.
He also mentioned other programs aligned with the TPS3R master plan, such as compost production from cattle manure, organic waste processing using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggots, and community empowerment through a waste bank system.
“We also provided training on the waste bank system, focusing on environmental sustainability and preparing residents for the eventual realization of TPS3R,” Gemilang explained.
Afan Martadi, Head of the BAPPEDA in Rembang, expressed his admiration for the students’ programs, emphasizing that waste management is now a critical issue in urban areas and across rural Indonesia.
The grand vision behind the TPS3R project is to improve the quality of life for the community by providing better access to a clean and healthy environment. Additionally, TPS3R is expected to boost the local economy through eco-tourism and creative industry-based waste management.
In addition to creating the TPS3R master plan, the KKN-PPM Renjana Rembang team also introduced business innovations tailored to the village’s resources and potential.
Students shared knowledge on creating new products, such as tie-dye batik and eco-print fabric, and processing mangoes into sorbet and jam.
According to Muhammad Indrajat Hardian, one of the KKN students, product innovation should be aligned with local resources to ensure a steady supply of raw materials once the products are successfully marketed.
“We also conducted a digital marketing boot camp to teach residents how to market their products through channels like WhatsApp Business and Facebook Marketplace,” Hardian added.
Author: Triya Andriyani