FPIK, SEMARANG -​ On Saturday (2/10), 10 students of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University (FPIK UNDIP) class 2018 – 2020, including Fathiyah, Aen, Zalza, Taqiya, Talitha, Rofiatul, Inda, Hafidz , Dika, and Gindo have visited a village in Demak Regency, Central Java. The purpose of this visit was to survey the environment and waste management conditions in Kedung Malang Village, Kedung Mutih Village and Morodemak Village accompanied by FPIK lecturers namely Agus Trianto, ST, M.Sc., Ph.D., Faik Kurohman, S.Pi. , M. Si,. Sigit Febrianto, S. Kel, M. Si,. Oktavianto Eko Jati, S.Pi, M.Si and Kukuh Prakoso, S.Pi., M.Sc. This activity is a series of FPIK UNDIP collaboration programs initiated by Agus Trianto, S.T, M.Sc, Ph.D together with Rumah Ilham Foundation, GotBag and several students from RheinMain University of Applied Science, Germany.

Bu Lurah stated that the people of Kedung Malang Village are still not indifferent to waste, every 3 days there is a garbage collection at a cost of Rp. 6,000, – but the withdrawal is still difficult because it is difficult for residents to pay. Residents wish that there is already a sorting of dry and wet waste from the upstream area, so that waste management will be easier, and they want to make a program for this. In addition, the Mutiara Laut Srikandi waste group in Kedung Malang wants to have a legal entity to facilitate waste management activities in the area. Kedung Malang Village has several other obstacles, such as the lack of human resources to transport and manage waste, and the unavailability of a TPA. The temporary location of the TPA has been on land for the construction of the GOR, however, the construction of the GOR is currently in progress, so residents need a new land as a TPA.

Photo: Discussion with Bu Lurah and Rumah Ilham Foundation. (Source: Personal Documentation)

In contrast to the village of Kedung, Malang, Mrs. Lukis as one of the residents of Kedung Mutih village initiated the waste management program. The activities that have been carried out are socialization which was responded well by the community, but there are still few changes from the community. Previously, the community had been diligent in collecting waste and exchanging it for money that was recaptured in savings, even the community could collect up to 34 tons of garbage if the pandemic was not hindered. With a program from the village for exchanging waste for money, people are competing to collect waste. The fishermen not only look for fish but also look for garbage in the sea. This makes the riverbanks clean and fish emerge into the waters. The only constraint of this program is the lack of a fleet for garbage collection, because there is no fleet to pick up trash from every house, the mothers who have collected garbage instead throw garbage carelessly because it has piled up.

From Rumah Ilham, providing solutions for plastic waste made from polymere or brittle quickly, the plastic waste is sold to cement factories to become additional raw materials.

Kedung Mutih has a driving organization commonly known as the pearl of the sea heroine organization, consisting of women in the Kedungmutih area. Their obstacles are the lack of support from the village, the absence of a TPA, Fleet and garbage collection cars so that waste management becomes hampered. (admin)

Photo: Socialization and Discussion with Mutiara Laut Srikandi group. (Source: Personal Documentation)