In commemoration of National Waste Awareness Day 2024, the Conservation Sub-Directorate of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) took proactive steps to foster waste management awareness in partnership with Sekaran Village, Gunungpati.
Aligning with the 2024 theme, “Tackle Waste Productively,” the Head of the Conservation Sub-Directorate at UNNES, Prof. Dr. Amin Retnoningsih, M.Si., expressed readiness to collaborate with Sekaran Village, located within the UNNES campus area, by providing waste management instructors. This commitment was discussed on Wednesday, February 21, at the Conservation Office in the Prof. Retno Sriningsih Satmoko Building.
“Our instructors are prepared to teach effective waste management methods, which are currently a pressing issue in many areas,” Prof. Amin stated.
UNNES operates an integrated waste management facility (TPST) managed by its conservation sub-directorate in Ki Ageng Gribik Alley, Sekaran, Gunungpati. The TPST uses specialized methods such as maggot cultivation, eco-enzyme production, and biopore systems to ensure waste no longer needs to be sent to the final disposal sites.
With the implementation of a zero-waste concept and effective waste management strategies, the UNNES TPST successfully processes 15 tons of waste daily, resulting in minimal residuals. Organic waste is converted into compost, utilized within the campus, or sold to the public, while leftover food waste is processed using maggots.
Sekaran Village Head, Sri Hartatin, warmly welcomed UNNES’s offer. Although Sekaran Village currently engages in essential waste management initiatives, such as establishing a waste bank, the advanced waste management expertise at UNNES is anticipated to benefit the community of Sekaran.
Following the discussion, a preventive measure was undertaken, installing nets along the banks of the Sekere River to deter waste accumulation along the roadside. This initiative aims to foster a cleaner, healthier environment and calls all Sekaran Village residents and its surroundings to follow regulations and refrain from littering.
The Head of the Conservation Sub-Directorate attended the event, the Heads of the Arts, Culture, and Character Values Division and the Natural Resources and Environment Division, as well as the Village Head of Sekaran, Babinsa Sekaran, the Head of Household Services, the Head of Security, and members of the Student Nature Lovers Group.
It concluded with a talk show titled “UNNES’s Commitment on National Waste Awareness Day,” broadcast live by UNNESTV, featuring Prof. Dr. Amin Retnoningsih, M.Si., Head of the Conservation Sub-Directorate, and Sekaran Village Head, Sri Hartatin.
Through the collaboration between UNNES and Sekaran Village, environmental awareness will continue to grow, encouraging individuals to actively contribute to environmental cleanliness for future generations.
