The issue of waste continues to plague many cities in Indonesia and requires serious attention, especially in Yogyakarta, which is currently experiencing a waste emergency.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), as an active institution in environmental conservation and sustainable development, is intensifying its Zero Waste campaign by implementing independent waste management on campus.
UGM’s waste management efforts include promoting environmental preservation through guidelines for separating waste by type, reducing the use of Styrofoam food containers, encouraging personal tumblers, and motivating the academic community to maintain health through regular exercise.
Nurudin Basyori from the Facilities Maintenance Division, Directorate of Assets at UGM, stated that the university collects about 6-7 cubic meters of waste daily, transported in three trucks.
“Every day, we transport 6-7 cubic meters of waste,” he said at the UGM Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT UGM) complex in Berbah, Sleman, on Wednesday (Jan. 22).
In line with the rector’s regulation, the waste collected is pre-sorted and placed in designated bins around the campus.
“We do not collect unsorted waste,” he explained.
However, this directive is not always fully adhered to, as certain areas, such as Jalan Sekip, still mix waste, requiring workers to sort it.
“Some areas comply, but not all,” he noted.
Although the Asset Directorate’s primary responsibility is waste collection, Basyori emphasizes the importance of sorting waste by type to the cleaning staff. He believes continuous education about waste sorting is essential.
Beyond maintaining campus cleanliness, UGM also engages in waste processing.
“The sorted waste from faculties is transported to PIAT UGM,” he explained.
The sorted waste is processed at the PIAT UGM complex in Berbah. Organic waste, such as leaves, is turned into compost.
“The resulting compost is used for gardens around the campus,” he added.
The Zero Waste campaign at UGM aims to reduce daily waste volume while facilitating waste collection and transforming it into something beneficial.
Pipit Noviyanti, who oversees waste processing activities at PIAT UGM, explained that the recycling innovation center processes three categories of waste from the UGM campus: leaf sweepings, branches, and mixed residual waste.
Leaf and branch waste is composted using windrow composting and composting bins. Residual waste undergoes manual sorting and shredding.
“The organic waste output becomes compost, utilized for PIAT UGM’s internal environment and campus landscaping,” she explained.
There are three outputs for mixed shredded waste: organic pulp for composting, low-value plastics processed by third-party partners into building materials, and non-recyclable residual waste sent for final disposal.
To support waste sorting and processing, Noviyanti emphasized the need for collective responsibility among all stakeholders, including students, staff, and educators.
“Our hope is for UGM to be free of unsorted waste, where all waste is properly separated by type,” she concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto