UNAIR NEWS – People in doing activities cannot escape from garbage. Garbage is a consequence of human activity. Community participation in controlling garbage is urgently needed. However, in realizing it sometimes there are some obstacles. For example, as experienced by Airlangga residents, especially RT 7 RW 3.

“Actually, our community used to collect organic waste then we sell it to the collectors. But, sometimes we experience some obstacles such as a trouble in seeking a collector, “said Lilik as the Head of Neighborhood Association(RT 7).

From that problem, the students of KKN-BBM 58 UMKM Group J took the initiative to create a “Garbage Bank”. It is a medium where garbage is collected by residents.  The program is for the Family Welfare Improvement(PKK) members around. The program was opened with the dissemination on the garbage bank by Surabaya Garbage Bank.

With Surabaya Garbage Bank, the residents do not need to look for more collectors. Moreover, the Garbage Bank offers several methods of payment from garbage collection, cash or use it to pay for electricity. Therefore, Surabaya Garbage Bank is supported by the State Electricity Company (PLN) Peduli.

“When KKN students offer the dissemination, we are passionate and very enthusiastic. We are really grateful for connecting us with the Surabaya Garbage Bank, ” he said.

Though later KKN students are not there. However, the program is expected to continue because it has various benefits. It makes the environment cleaner and gives benefits to the people from the economic side.

“We hope that after this KKN activity completed, the residents of RT 7, RW 3, Gubeng Sub-district, Airlangga urban community, keep their spirit to manage organic waste with Surabaya Garbage Bank. And, we hope this program also followed by other residents, “said Izaz Al’amin, a student of Faculty of Science and Technology UNAIR. (*)

Author: Pradita Desyanti

Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i