The development of tourism potential and several educational infrastructures in Warungboto Village, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta, has spurred socio-economic growth with the emergence of various community-owned MSMEs, resulting in Warungboto Village producing significant waste.
This waste contributes to the overall waste problem in Yogyakarta City. The closure of the Piyungan Landfill has exacerbated the situation with accumulating waste.
“Trash banks serve as one solution to the waste problem. Warungboto Village currently has 11 active trash banks,” said Athaya Hanum Mahira, a 2022 Regional Development program student at the Faculty of Geography, on Wednesday (Jun. 12).
Mahira acknowledged that the presence of trash banks in Warungboto Village is a solution to the increasing waste accumulation. However, efforts are needed to improve the effectiveness of their management.
With this in mind, Mahira and the team aimed to optimize the trash banks through digitalization and enhance community awareness and creativity regarding waste management.
Mahira explained that the team involved waste activists in Warungboto Village. She mentioned that the digitalization program was implemented by utilizing applications, websites, and popular social media platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, which are integrated to facilitate the management of trash banks, including the methods of connecting trash bank customers with managers.
“Warungboto Village, located in Yogyakarta City, has tourism potential and several educational infrastructures, promoting socio-economic growth with the emergence of community-owned MSMEs,” she said.
Students from diverse backgrounds contributed to developing information technology and environmental systems. The team members came from the Regional Development, Information Engineering, Biology, Forestry, and Electronics and Instrumentation programs.
“We, as a team, are developing this system as a form of service in Warungboto Village, with the theme ‘LESTARI Innovation (Integrated and Environmentally Friendly Waste Efficiency Services): Digitalization of Waste Management and Sustainable Economic Creation in Warungboto Village,’” Mahira explained.
The program was implemented from March to October 2024, with guidance from lecturer Alia Fajarwati and the Ministry of Education’s support. The UGM team conducted surveys and approached the Warungboto Village Government, community, and stakeholders to develop the program.
“Currently, an agenda is being carried out to introduce the program to the community to support the success of waste management digitalization towards a zero-waste Warungboto Village. Hopefully, this activity will solve the waste problem in Yogyakarta,” she explained.
Author: Agung Nugroho