Enviro News Asia, Bekasi — The Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (UI), conducted a community service and empowerment program on organic and inorganic waste management for housewives in Bojong Menteng Sub-district, Rawalumbu, Bekasi City, West Java, on Saturday.
Waste management has become a critical issue in Bekasi City. According to Indonesia’s National Waste Management Information System, total waste generation in Bekasi reached 614,462.32 tons in 2024. Nationally, approximately 50.71 percent of total waste originates from households, highlighting domestic activities as the primary source of waste generation.
To address this challenge, the program focused on educating housewives through the Social Innovation Program on Women’s Participation in Waste Sorting from an Early Stage Using a Circular Economy Approach. The initiative was implemented through cross-faculty collaboration involving the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), and the School of Environmental Science (SPPB) UI, in partnership with the Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera.
UI academic representative Dwini Handayani emphasized the strategic role of women in household waste management.
“Housewives play a key role in managing household waste, from sorting organic and inorganic materials to supporting the circular economy through sustainable waste practices,” she said, adding that proper education could also open opportunities for waste-based economic empowerment.
Chairman of RW 02 Bojong Menteng, Dain Santoso, welcomed the initiative, noting that women’s involvement is essential in building environmental awareness and encouraging small-scale business initiatives derived from waste management practices.
Program activities included assistance in establishing a waste bank unit, hands-on training in converting used cooking oil into aromatic candles, recycling sachet packaging into woven products, branding support for recycled products, and regulatory advocacy with relevant stakeholders. Chairwoman of Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera, Apriliawati, explained that the program enables housewives to save recyclable waste, generate income from household waste, and gain additional economic benefits.
The initiative represents an initial step toward fostering environmental awareness led by housewives, who play a central role in domestic waste management. It also supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), with a strong focus on waste reduction and circular economy practices.
The program was supported by funding from UI’s Directorate of Community Service and Social Innovation, PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk, as well as facilities and operational support from Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera. (*)
