Enviro News Asia, Bekasi — The Environmental Science Program of the Department of Environmental Science, School of Sustainable Development Studies (SPPB), Universitas Indonesia, conducted a community service and empowerment program focused on waste management education for students of SDN 5 Bojong Menteng, Rawalumbu District, Bekasi City, West Java.
The program was implemented in collaboration with Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera and is scheduled to run from July 2025 to December 2025, with continuation planned until June 2026. The initiative aims to foster environmental awareness among elementary school children through participatory and practical learning approaches.
Bekasi City continues to face significant challenges in waste management as population growth accelerates. Addressing this issue, the program adopts an inclusive social innovation model titled Inclusive Social Innovation in Waste Management: Increasing Children’s Participation in the Circular Economy. The initiative is part of a cross-faculty collaboration between SPPB UI and the Faculty of Humanities, in partnership with Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera.
Representing the academic community of Universitas Indonesia, Herdis Herdiansyah stated that waste segregation education in schools requires strong support from teachers, community groups, and local residents. He emphasized that education alone is insufficient without a sustainable waste management system, such as a waste bank, to ensure long-term impact.
During the program, students participated in hands-on activities and educational games, including Waste-to-Creation Workshops, “My Waste, My Responsibility” sessions, Waste Exploration Expeditions, Eco-Warrior Kids Competitions, and the establishment of a Mini School Waste Bank.
Dwita, a teacher at SDN 5 Bojong Menteng, welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation for the program’s contribution to building environmental awareness among young learners. She noted that interactive and game-based learning helps students better understand waste types, recycling processes, and the importance of waste segregation.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera, Apriliawati, said the program is expected to help children recognize the economic value of properly managed waste and encourage active participation in waste banking activities.
The program aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on quality education and Goal 15 on the protection of terrestrial ecosystems. The activity was supported by funding from the Directorate of Community Service and Social Innovation of Universitas Indonesia and PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk, with facilities and technical support provided by Bank Sampah Alamanda Sejahtera. (*)
