The issue of waste in Yogyakarta has received attention from various groups. Since the closure of the Piyungan landfill in July 2023, the accumulation of waste in various locations has been expressed through the jargon “Jogja Darurat Sampah” by many groups. The waste generated in Yogyakarta mainly consists of organic waste, plastics, paper, and other recyclables. Organic waste, such as food scraps, makes up a significant portion of the city’s waste. The improper disposal of plastic waste, especially single-use plastics, is another major environmental concern. Additionally, the lack of sufficient public awareness about waste sorting and recycling exacerbates the problem. The government and the community, especially environmental groups and activists, have become increasingly active in finding solutions, both through policy development, awareness-raising campaigns, and concrete actions.
Although various creative efforts have been made, waste management in Yogyakarta still faces various challenges, and therefore creative strategies need to be developed. Related to that, many waste observers and managers have often and continue to discuss the importance of cross-sector consolidation with a holistic approach to integrated waste management.
In connection with the explanation above, the Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS) and the Interreligious Studies (IRS) S3 Study Program, in collaboration with the Environmental Science Study Program, UGM Graduate School (SPs), initiated a Community Service Program (PKM) related to waste management in Yogyakarta. The PKM program is scheduled to develop networks and consolidation across sectors (government, private sector, civil society, community) for integrated and sustainable waste management.
This activity was attended by 30 participants, who were representatives of groups/communities/companies that care about and work on waste issues in Yogyakarta. Participants are online survey fillers as baseline research. In this activity, the team presented the survey results in the form of a map of the distribution of areas and their potential, as well as the identification of challenges and solutions. After that, the participants and the PKM team formulated a strategy based on the knowledge and experience shared by the participants, which was then realized in a commitment statement document to work together signed by all participants and the PKM team present.
The conclusion of this workshop is that this activity aims to develop an Integrated Waste Management System through cross-sector synergy and collaboration based on the survey mapping results. In addition, the workshop also aimed to develop a joint document that will serve as a reference in integrated waste management, as well as designing a follow-up program plan involving various related sectors. Thus, this workshop is an important step in creating a more efficient, sustainable, and coordinated waste management system between sectors.
