As one of Indonesia’s educational and cultural cities, the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Province is now facing serious challenges in waste management. Along with population growth and increasing economic activities, the waste problem has become increasingly complex.
The active role of various parties, including universities, is crucial in finding innovative and sustainable solutions.
“The waste issue is a shared responsibility, not just the government,” said Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service and Alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Arie Sujito, in his remarks at the National Waste Awareness Day (HPSN) celebration titled ‘Collaboration for Clean DIY’ which took place at the Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) Bawuran, Bantul Regency, Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025.
According to him, the community should utilize universities’ waste management technology, not just for research.
He also ensured that UGM would allocate 25% of all UGM students to be placed in Yogyakarta as a form of commitment to dealing with waste management issues.
“Synergy between academics, government, and society will be able to create a more sustainable waste management system,” he explained.
A number of other universities, namely Ahmad Dahlan University, UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa University, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta State University, Yogyakarta University of Technology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Janabadra University, and Poltekkes Kemenkes Yogyakarta, also expressed their commitment by signing a petition for collaboration in waste management through the Community Service Program (KKN).
UGM handed over several books guiding the province’s Collaborative and Thematic KKN on Waste Management on this occasion.
The program is expected to accelerate the resolution of waste problems from upstream, namely community habits, to bring innovation in various fields to reduce waste from the source.
The Head of the DIY Environment and Forestry Office (DLHK), Kusno Wibowo, revealed in his report that DIY waste management has transformed in the past year.
Previously, DIY Province used a collect-transport-dispose system with landfills (TPA) as the spearhead. Now, it reduces waste from the source through sorting and processing.
However, from the results of the evaluation carried out, there are still waste piles that cannot be processed in ways that are not in accordance with the provisions of environmentally friendly standards.
“HPSN 2025 in DIY is a momentum for us to continue to make improvements; therefore, the local government is collaborating with more parties to accelerate the transformation process of waste management in Yogyakarta,” he explained.
On the same day, the Bantul Regency Government began testing the Bawuran Carbonation Center Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) as one of the residual waste incineration facilities.
Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih explained that in the trial phase, the ITF, which has obtained an operational permit from DLHK, will incinerate 50 tons of residual waste per day.
Built by the Aneka Dharma Regional General Company, the Bawuran ITF is predicted to be able to handle up to 300 tons of waste per day.
“With the average residual waste of Bantul Regency reaching 15% of the total waste, the remaining capacity of the ITF can be optimized through cooperation between regencies and cities in Yogyakarta. I am optimistic that this facility can accelerate the waste settlement process. Hopefully, this cooperation will continue to improve with campuses in DIY,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang
Photographer: Firsto