UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has deployed students from its Community Service Program Learning with Community (Kuliah Kerja Nyata, Belajar Bersama Komunitas or KKN-BBK) 4 to Bakalan Village, Gondang Sub-district, Mojokerto Regency. One of the primary challenges in this area is the inadequate management of waste.
To tackle this issue, students from UNAIR’s KKN-BBK 4 have introduced a solution: converting organic waste into compost. Tsabita Amalia H, a member of the KKN-BBK 4 from the Faculty of Nursing (FKp), explained that their goal is to promote environmental cleanliness in Bakalan.
“In Bakalan Village, we frequently encounter issues like improper handling of household waste, which is often burned or disposed of in rivers due to the absence of a proper landfill,” she explained on Wednesday (July 17, 2024).
Organic waste compost
As part of their initiative, the KKN-BBK 4 group in Bakalan Village has built four composting units, distributed directly to each neighborhood. The aim is to effectively manage household waste on a small scale.
“After distributing the tools to each neighborhood leader, one application involves using composters around the village office. Dry leaves collected from the vicinity are processed into organic fertilizer using these tools,” Tsabita explained.
Tsabita mentioned that producing 600 ml of liquid organic compost fertilizer takes approximately one week. She continued by explaining that their composting process also utilizes EM 4 products containing bacteria to speed up the breakdown of organic waste.
“What distinguishes these composters is their use of easily accessible tools and materials. Additionally, they require organic waste from households and a small amount of EM4 solution to produce solid and liquid organic compost fertilizers,” she added.
Program sustainability
Tsabita highlighted that the local community has already gained benefit from the composting tools. “One notable application is the use of composters in the area surrounding the village office. Furthermore, one neighborhood leader in Bakalan Village uses these devices for environmentally friendly gardening activities,” she revealed.
Tsabita emphasized that these composting efforts can significantly benefit the local community. The compost produced serves as support for home gardening, helping plants grow robustly and resist pests. She hopes that these devices will contribute to the local economy, primarily benefiting farmers who rely on solid organic compost fertilizers.
Author: Ahmad Hanif Musthafa
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
