Low Awareness of Waste Segregation: Between Habit and Lack of Education
Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN), or community service programme, is a vehicle for university students to understand the various problems facing society whilst making a tangible contribution through programmes suited to the needs of the village. One of the problems I encountered during my KKN placement in Purwodadi village was the low level of public awareness in sorting household waste. Although most residents are accustomed to disposing of rubbish in its proper place, the habit of separating organic and inorganic waste has yet to become a culture applied in daily life.
In my view, this lack of awareness is not simply because people do not care about the environment. The main contributing factors are habits built up over many years and minimal education about the benefits of waste separation. Many residents assume all types of waste require the same treatment, so all rubbish is collected in a single container before disposal. As a result, waste that could still be recycled or reused ends up at the final disposal site.
Through my interactions with the community, I realised that some residents genuinely wish to keep their environment clean. However, they have not received sufficient information about how to sort waste, its economic benefits, or its impact on environmental sustainability. This shows that changing behaviour requires not only the provision of facilities but also a continuous educational process so that people understand the reasons behind the importance of waste separation.
Through our KKN work programme of waste management education and the introduction of waste banks, we sought to convey that waste is not merely refuse to be thrown away, but also has practical value if managed properly. Organic waste can be processed into compost, whilst inorganic waste such as plastic, paper, and metal can be recycled or deposited at a waste bank, giving it economic value. This approach is expected to shift the community’s mindset from a culture of discarding to a culture of managing.
In my view, successful waste management depends heavily on the involvement of all elements of society. The village government, schools, PKK women’s groups, youth organisations, and students need to work together to build the habit of sorting waste starting at home. Education carried out continuously will be more effective than one-off socialisation, because behavioural change takes time, habituation, and real examples.
My KKN experience has taught me that environmental problems do not always require complicated solutions. Small changes, such as getting into the habit of sorting waste before disposal, can have a major impact on environmental cleanliness, reduce the volume of waste going to final disposal sites, and open up economic opportunities through recycling and waste banks. This proves that care for the environment can begin with simple actions carried out consistently.
Ultimately, I believe the low awareness of waste sorting is a challenge that can be overcome if people’s habits are built through appropriate and sustained education. KKN serves as one means of fostering that awareness through mentoring, socialisation, and community empowerment. The hope is that a waste-sorting culture will not remain merely part of a KKN programme, but become a habit continually practised by residents in pursuit of a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment in Purwodadi village.