Zulhas Encourages Pesantren Waste Management as Model for Other Regions
Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) is encouraging waste management practices within Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) to become a model that can be applied in other regions. He made the remarks after observing first-hand the innovations of students at SMK Kreatif Chasbullah, part of Pondok Pesantren Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas in Jombang, in processing waste.
The students have turned waste into various useful products, ranging from paving blocks to biogas. The practice was demonstrated during a dialogue between Zulhas and the students as part of the 2026 Santri Literacy Congress at the SMK Kreatif Chasbullah Expo Bazaar on Friday (28/8).
According to Zulhas, the waste management carried out by the students shows the importance of applying environmental literacy in daily life. He believes that knowledge about waste needs to be realised through concrete action.
“This is a good example. The santri not only know how to sort waste, but they can already process it into something useful. This is what we must continue to encourage and replicate elsewhere,” Zulhas said in a statement on Saturday (29/8/2026).
During the dialogue, Zulhas tested the students’ knowledge of waste types, the use of inorganic waste, and residue management. Several students were able to answer his questions well. That knowledge has also been applied through waste processing to the point where the remainder approaches zero residue.
“We have processed the waste and turned it into biogas and paving blocks, Mr Coordinating Minister, so nothing is wasted — zero waste,” said Andika M. Nuur, one of the students.
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.
The 2026 Santri Literacy Congress also included the presentation of the Environmentally Conscious Pesantren Award. The waste management practices carried out by students of SMK Kreatif Chasbullah serve as an example that pesantren 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 society.