Social reengineering of rubbish management (a case study on Jebres rubbish bank in Solo City, Indonesia)

This research aimed to build a rubbish-conscious community movement and to utilize the rubbish to obtain an economic advantage. This study was an action research using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach. The subject of research was people living in Jebres, Solo City. Data were collected through interview, focus group discussion, participatory observation, and documentation. Education of People Consciousness and Skill for rubbish management was conducted using reduce, reuse, recycle and replant (4R) principles. The activity stage involved socialization on rubbish bank revitalization, reinforcement of institution capacity, and stakeholder network expansion. The expansion of customers involved people surrounding the rubbish bank (general society and those living in the boarding house) and campus of Sebelas Maret University. Institution network involved kresek community, Solo City Government (Kelurahan Jebres, Living Environment Office), Perusahaan Umum Pegadaian (General Pawnshop Company), and mass media. The result of action research showed that people’s consciousness of utilizing rubbish improved thereby the effect of environmental pollution was reduced. Consciousness grew among the people to save the rubbish economically by converting wastes into precious metal (gold), and they motivated to benefit from the rubbish which so far considered as waste only.