The atmosphere at the open community space of Griya Sekargading Housing Estate, RT 07/RW III, Kalisegoro Village, Gunungpati District, Semarang, was noticeably different when the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), organized an Ecobrick Making Training on July 5, 2026, in Semarang. Dozens of members of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) from RT 07/RW III enthusiastically gathered to receive guidance and participate in hands-on training on transforming household plastic waste into ecobricks.
The activity was conducted as part of a Community Service Program funded through the UNNES Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM UNNES). It was designed to support the Indonesian government’s efforts to reduce plastic waste while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by promoting cleaner neighborhoods and more effective waste management, and SDG 13: Climate Action by reducing carbon emissions generated from the production and improper disposal or burning of plastic waste.
Rudi Salam, Head of the Community Service Team, explained that the program was intended to go beyond technical training by empowering local residents to adopt more sustainable waste management practices.
“This program applies an interdisciplinary approach aimed at changing community habits. We encourage residents to sort their household waste and process plastic waste into ecobricks. In this way, we can reduce plastic pollution while creating new economic opportunities for the community,” he said.
The community service team also included Nining and Wahyuningsih, members of the FISIP UNNES SDGs and Conservation Task Force, A.T. Sugeng Priyanto, a lecturer in the Civic Education Study Program at UNNES, as well as two students, Surya Khairiandra and Muhammad Najwa Hilmi. The participation of students provided valuable field experience while demonstrating the important role of young people in developing practical environmental solutions. Their involvement also reflected UNNES’ commitment to creating meaningful impacts through community engagement.
Ani Prihatin, one of the training participants, expressed her appreciation for the program.
“Before attending this program, we simply threw our plastic waste into the garbage bin. Now we realize that, with a little skill, plastic waste can be transformed into ecobricks, reducing waste while also creating products that can be sold or crafted into useful items with economic value,” she said enthusiastically.
The training has significantly changed the community’s perception of household waste. In addition to separating recyclable materials for sale, residents learned that plastic waste previously considered worthless could be converted into ecobricks and used to produce flower pots, chairs, and other household items. Some communities have even utilized ecobricks as an alternative building material to replace conventional bricks.
Ani, who also serves as the Chair of the PKK of RT 07/RW III, emphasized the long-term benefits of the initiative.
“Programs like this are highly beneficial. If they are implemented continuously, they will provide lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits for the community,” she concluded.
