Before Zulhas, Santri in Jombang Showcase Turning Waste into Energy

Students of SMK Kreatif Chasbullah, Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, showcased their waste processing practices to Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan. The students have processed waste into useful products, ranging from paving blocks to biogas.

The practice was demonstrated when Zulhas held a dialogue with the students as part of the 2026 Santri Literacy Congress at the SMK Kreatif Chasbullah Expo Bazaar on Friday (28/8).

During the dialogue, Zulhas tested the students’ knowledge of types of waste, the utilisation of inorganic waste, and residue management. A number of students were able to answer the questions well. The students’ knowledge has also been applied through waste processing with nearly zero residue remaining.

“We have processed waste and turned it into biogas and paving blocks, Mr Coordinating Minister, so nothing is wasted — zero waste,” said one student, Andika M. Nuur, in a statement on Saturday (29/8/2026).

Upon hearing the explanation, Zulhas expressed appreciation for the students’ practices. In his view, what the students have done shows that environmental literacy is not enough to be merely understood, but must be realised in concrete action.

“This is a good example. The students not only know how to sort waste, but have already been able to process it into something useful. This is what we must continue to encourage and replicate elsewhere,” said Zulhas.

Zulhas said that awareness and skills in managing waste from an early age are an important part of building a new culture of environmental management.

On the occasion, Zulhas also introduced the importance of processing waste into energy, including through Waste-to-Energy Processing (PSEL). According to him, various waste management approaches need to be developed according to the characteristics and conditions of each region.

For information, the 2026 Santri Literacy Congress also included the presentation of the Environmentally Conscious Islamic Boarding School Award. The waste management practices carried out by the students of SMK Kreatif Chasbullah serve as an example that Islamic boarding schools are not only centres of religious education, but can also become spaces for the growth of innovation and environmental awareness that provide real benefits to the community.