Circular Bandung Utama: From Waste to Food, From Food to Hope

BANDUNG — The first year of the Sirkular Bandung Utama (Circular Bandung Utama) programme has marked a new chapter in environmental transformation and food security in the City of Flowers. Through the collaboration of three flagship programmes — Kang Pisman, Buruan SAE, and Dapur Dashat — the Bandung City Government has presented an integrated solution from upstream to downstream: managing waste, growing food, and meeting family nutritional needs.

The programme combines the Kang Pisman movement (an acronym for Kurangi, Pisahkan, Manfaatkan — Reduce, Separate, Utilise), the Buruan SAE urban farming innovation (Sehat, Alami, Ekonomis — Healthy, Natural, Economical), and Dashat (Dapur Sehat Atasi Stunting — Healthy Kitchen to Overcome Stunting) within a single ecosystem known as Karasa.

The circular chain works as follows: organic waste is processed into compost, the compost is used to grow food, the harvest is utilised in healthy kitchens, and kitchen waste is returned to the processing system.

One clear example of success can be seen in Mekarjaya Village, Rancasari District, where the complete circular chain is operating: waste is processed into compost, compost enriches the gardens, the harvest enters the healthy kitchen, and kitchen waste is managed once again.

A resident of Mekarjaya Village, Opi S Inayah, said that Buruan SAE has become her family’s source of food. “We can plant, harvest, and use the results for the healthy kitchen. This is an integrated movement and it is very good,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lismawati said the presence of Dashat has helped meet children’s nutritional needs. “From the urban farming harvest, healthy menus are created for residents. This greatly supports the reduction of stunting,” she said.

Mayor Muhammad Farhan explained that the main challenge at present is ensuring the equitable distribution of Dashat across every neighbourhood association (RW). For this reason, the Bandung City Government is ensuring that at least one healthy kitchen is available in every village (kelurahan). The Buruan SAE and waste processing programmes are already in place on average across the city.

This model demonstrates that change can begin at the village level — from people’s front yards, from residents’ kitchens, and from shared concern for one another.