The waste management issue in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has drawn growing public attention following the closure of the Piyungan Final Disposal Site (TPA) in 2024. The closure has led to the accumulation of waste in several areas, highlighting the urgent need for new, sustainable management innovations. Addressing this challenge, a team of students from the Department of Politics and Government at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is developing a village-based waste management model, with case studies in Panggungharjo Village (Bantul Regency) and Sinduadi Village (Sleman Regency).
The research team consists of Muhammad Thoriq Nailul Author, Pradipta Arya Arsensa, Fata Rozin Jahfal, and Peter Gabriel Taiyoo Karnodipuro, all students of UGM’s Department of Politics and Government. The team operates under the guidance of Dr. Nur Azizah, a lecturer in the same department at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UGM (Fisipol UGM).
The study maps the waste flow from households to final disposal sites and examines the interactions between formal and informal actors involved in village-level waste management. The research adopts a circular economy approach to explore opportunities for reusing and recycling waste as valuable resources.
Panggungharjo demonstrates how social capital and community cooperation (gotong royong) can serve as powerful forces in reducing waste sent to landfills. Meanwhile, Sinduadi stands out for its partnerships with the private sector in managing organic waste.
“Both models are compelling, and we aim to explore how they can be combined,” said Muhammad Thoriq Nailul Author on Friday (Oct. 3) at UGM.
Preliminary findings indicate that Panggungharjo excels in social participation but struggles with sustainability when community contributions decline. Conversely, Sinduadi has successfully formed collaborations with private entities, such as PT Hayuning Bhumi Makmur and PT DUI, yet still faces challenges related to regulations and community acceptance.
“We seek to formulate a more adaptive hybrid model, where villages do not depend on a single system. By combining community participation and business innovation, waste management can become more sustainable while generating economic benefits for residents,” explained Peter Gabriel Taiyoo Karnodipuro.
Beyond technical aspects, the study also highlights the social and political dimensions of waste governance.
“Waste is not merely a technical issue, but it is also social, economic, and political. Through this research, we want to show that villages can play a vital role in building an inclusive and equitable waste management system,” added Pradipta Arya Arsensa.
The student team employs a qualitative method, combining participatory observation and in-depth interviews in both villages. They also apply the PESTLE framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) to analyze external factors that influence the success of waste management systems.
The research is expected to produce a policy brief, a scientific article, a research report, and social media publications. The team hopes their recommendations will serve as references for local governments and other villages across Indonesia.
“We hope this research becomes a tangible student contribution toward sustainable environmental solutions. Villages hold great potential because it’s about creating systems that enable participation from all actors, including waste pickers and local communities,” said Fata Rozin Jahfal.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: The Panggungharjo–Sinduadi PKM Team