Penguatan Peran Bank Sampah dalam Meningkatkan Nilai Ekonomi Limbah Anorganik melalui Edukasi Berbasis Partisipasi Warga

Abstract

This community service program aimed to strengthen the role of waste banks as community participation-based environmental education centers and as a means of increasing the economic value of inorganic waste in Bangunharjo Village, Semarang City. The primary challenge faced by the community was the low level of knowledge and skills in sorting and managing inorganic waste with commercial value. The program was carried out through collaboration between academic teams from Pandanaran University, Sultan Agung Islamic University, and recycling industry partner UD Tarina Mandiri Perkasa, employing a participatory and applied approach that encompassed four stages: preparation, education and socialization, implementation assistance, and evaluation. Supporting media and equipment included presentation materials on the 3R principles alongside waste samples such as bottles, cardboard, and jerry cans as sorting examples, complemented by weighing scales. The results demonstrated a measurable increase in community environmental knowledge and awareness, greater resident participation in household waste sorting, and the establishment of organized waste bank management systems. Beyond contributing to the reduction of inorganic waste, the activity successfully fostered the emergence of recycling-based creative economic initiatives and green entrepreneurship knowledge at the local community level, reflecting a sustainable and replicable model of community-driven environmental governance.