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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Waste sorting awareness low in Indonesian village due to habits, lack of education

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A university student observed low public awareness regarding household waste sorting during a community service program in Purwodadi village.
  • The student attributes this to ingrained habits and a lack of education on the benefits of waste segregation.
  • The program aims to educate residents on waste management, including the potential economic value of recyclables and organic waste.

During a community service program in Purwodadi village, a university student identified a significant lack of public awareness regarding household waste sorting. Muhammad Fahmi Hidayat, the student, noted that while most residents are accustomed to disposing of trash properly, separating organic and inorganic waste has not become a daily habit.

Many residents, he observed, treat all types of waste the same, collecting everything in one bin before disposal.

— Muhammad Fahmi HidayatDescribing the current waste disposal habits in Purwodadi village.

Hidayat believes this issue stems not from a lack of care for the environment, but from long-standing habits and insufficient education about the advantages of waste segregation. Many residents, he observed, treat all types of waste the same, collecting everything in one bin before disposal. This practice results in recyclable materials ending up in landfills.

This practice results in recyclable materials ending up in landfills.

— Muhammad Fahmi HidayatExplaining the consequence of current waste disposal habits.

He found that many villagers are willing to maintain environmental cleanliness but lack information on how to sort waste, its economic benefits, and its impact on environmental sustainability. Hidayat's community service program focuses on educating residents about waste management and introducing the concept of a 'waste bank.' The initiative aims to shift the community's mindset from a 'throwaway' culture to a 'management' culture, highlighting that waste can have value if handled correctly.

The initiative aims to shift the community's mindset from a 'throwaway' culture to a 'management' culture, highlighting that waste can have value if handled correctly.

— Muhammad Fahmi HidayatOutlining the goal of the waste management education program.

Organic waste can be composted, while inorganic materials like plastic, paper, and metal can be recycled or sold to waste banks for economic gain. Hidayat emphasized that successful waste management requires collaboration among village government, schools, community groups, and students. Continuous education, he argued, is more effective than one-off socializations, as behavioral change takes time, practice, and visible examples.

Continuous education is more effective than one-off socializations, as behavioral change takes time, practice, and visible examples.

— Muhammad Fahmi HidayatStressing the importance of ongoing educational efforts for behavioral change.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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