RADIO UNAIR – Coming from their concern to river pollution, four students from Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) suggested a new method to prevent river pollution in Gunung Anyar Tengah, Surabaya. The method was implemented by enable people to buy vegetables with used diapers or LISA KEPO in short.
The four students from FKM UNAIR were Anca Laika (FKM/2015), Elsya Vira Putri (FKM/2014), Ahmad Habibullah (FKM/2014), and Musyayadah (FKM/2014). The idea was proposed in Student Creativity Program – Community Service (PKM – M) which was through the selection from General Directorate of Higher Education, Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education 2016.
Why baby diapers? The method was coming from the condition of Brantas River in Sidoarjo which was polluted by baby diapers. Gunung Anyar Tengah is located in between two rivers, potential to be polluted by the same waste.
According to the knowledge they get from college, baby diapers contain Gel Sodium Polyacrylate so it can be used as vegetable plant medium. Their idea was appreciated by Farming Agency of Surabaya. The Agency helped them by providing vegetable seed to plant with the used diapers.
In the idea implementation, LISA KEPO team empower community of local PKK. The team encourage the members of the community (PKK) to make waste bank to contain used baby diapers. Everyone who throw out used diapers encouraged to record the number of diapers they throw out to the management of the waste bank. The more diapers they turn in, the more vegetables they get. That was why it was called LISA KEPO (membeli sayur pakai popok).
They hoped with this idea, the intensity to throw out used diapers to the rivers lessened and the idea can be implemented in other areas. If you want to know more about the idea of LISA KEPO, watch the complete interview of UNAIR Radio with Anca Laika, Elsya Vira Putri, and Ahmad Habibullah! (*)
Author: Faridah Hari
Editor: Defrina Sukma
