Environment and climate change are important issues in national and international levels. Those issues are often related to the increase in amount of plastic waste. Many people are starting to hold campaign about plastic waste reduction.

Departing from the problem, Students performing a community service program (KKN 70) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) launched a program called “Shodaqoh Sampah” (Waste Donation). This program was conducted in Gerso, Trimurti, Serandaan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. The program aims to reduce household waste by donating recyclable waste to authorities, and then the people can exchange the waste with money.

The community service team, accompanied by Dr. Nanik Prasetyoningsih as supervisor, and Arie Kusuma Paksi, Ph.D as leader of program headed to Shodaqoh Sampah in Brajan to support the community service program. During their visit on Sunday (17/2) in Al-Muharram Mosque, the team bestowed brief information about history of Shodaqoh Sampah. The team also simulated waste training management in front of the people. The program was also attended by organizers of Shodaqoh Sampah, community service team, and people of Gerso.

La Ode Idul Fikri, a leader of community service team told that the program referred to main theme, “Environmental Health Optimization”. “Our location is suitable to implement the program with a fact that waste problems are quite serious in there. Besides, we also conduct supporting programs, namely workshop and training management of creative waste, application of good and health environment, and elucidation of economical waste,” he added.

Dita Setiawan, a Shodaqoh Sampah organizer stated that there were obstacles when implementing the program. “We have only few vehicles to transport the waste. People also seem to be occupied with their daily works so that they cannot fully participate in a waste sorting session. Organizers have to arrange schedule for people so that they all can participate,” revealed Dita.

She continued, “I have big expectation that the Shodaqoh Sampah program in Brajan can work continuously and also can be means to promote Brajan, and most importantly, can build people awareness of waste management.”

Arie Kusuma Paksi, Ph.D. mentioned that he had big expectation for the program to operate not only in Brajan, but also in other villages. He explained that contribution of students and lecturers are necessary to facilitate similar programs. “UMY can be a crucial actor to solve environmental issues in society,” he ended.