Universitas Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through an innovative and impactful initiative. Students from UI's Faculty of Nursing (FoN) and Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences initiated a programme that provides a concrete solution to the plastic waste problem in Sukarame Village, Banten. The programme, titled ‘EPIK 2024: Ecobricking Education’, has caught the attention of the wider community and offers a new perspective on community empowerment through creative approaches.

Sukarame Village, known as a tourist destination with stunning natural beauty, has recently been faced with a serious environmental challenge, namely the increasing amount of plastic waste. As more visitors come, the volume of plastic waste accumulates, threatening environmental sustainability and the health of the local community. However, the presence of UI students with the innovative idea of ecobricks is a breath of fresh air that brings new hope to the village.

Ecobricks are not just another solution; they are a revolutionary method of turning plastic waste into a valuable resource. In simple terms, ecobricks are used plastic bottles that are densely filled with different types of plastic waste until they reach a certain density. These bottles can then be used as strong, versatile and environmentally friendly building materials. With ecobricks, plastic waste that used to be a burden on the environment can now be turned into high-value products such as chairs, tables, and simple building structures.

The ecobricking process requires no special equipment or skills, making it very easy for anyone to implement. The only tools needed are an old plastic bottle, clean plastic waste that has been cut into small pieces, and a wooden press to compact the waste in the bottle. The standard for ecobricking is to ensure that the bottle is full and solid, with a minimum weight of one third of the bottle's volume. For example, for a 600 ml bottle, the resulting ecobrick should weigh 200 grams.

Another advantage of ecobricks is their flexibility. Ecobrick products can be customised to suit the needs and creativity of the local community. In Sukarame Village, for example, ecobricks are planned to be assembled into tables and chairs that can be used by the community or even sold as value-added products. Ecobricks thus serve not only as a waste management solution, but also as a new source of income for villagers.

UI students have taken the initiative to educate and empower the community to process waste into ecobricks. The initiative is led by eight students from FoN and Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences UI who have a vision to create positive change in the community. Under the guidance of Ns. Suryane Sulistiana Susanti, M.A., Ph.D., the students designed an educational programme that not only teaches how to ecobrick, but also instills awareness of the importance of sustainable plastic waste management.

The activity, which took place in Sukarame Village, was enthusiastically welcomed by the villagers. They were not only invited to understand the concept and benefits of ecobricking, but were also directly involved in the manufacturing process. In a short period of time, villagers began to see for themselves how plastic waste that had been considered useless, could be transformed into something useful and of economic value.

Acting Dean of FoN UI, Dessie Wanda, S.Kp., M.N., Ph.D., also expressed her high appreciation for the programme. ‘We are very proud to see the enthusiasm of the Sukarame community. This programme not only provides a practical solution to the waste problem, but also opens people's eyes that plastic waste can be turned into something valuable. This is a clear example of how education can empower and bring positive changes in society,’ she said.

Seeing the great potential that ecobricks hold, various parties in Sukarame Village, including the village government and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), have expressed support to continue the initiative. One of the long-term plans is the formation of a village waste bank group that will focus on collecting and processing plastic waste into ecobricks.This group will then be able to work with local and provincial government in developing a more structured and sustainable waste management programme.

Mr Hasan Basri, Executive Director of BUMDes Selat Sunda Sukarame, expressed his optimism for the future of the programme. ‘With this programme, we are optimistic that Sukarame Village can become an example for other villages in managing plastic waste.

In a creative and sustainable way, ecobricking opens up a great opportunity for communities to not only keep the environment clean, but also create economic value from something that was previously considered waste,’ he said.

The sustainability of the ecobrick programme is not only a hope for Sukarame villagers, but also a model for other villages facing similar problems. With continued support from academia, government and the community, Sukarame Village can utilise ecobricks as an effective social and economic empowerment tool.

As part of the effort to develop this potential, the university and BUMDes plan to organise further training and workshops involving more communities around Sukarame. The training programme aims to expand knowledge of ecobricking and integrate the technique into various aspects of community life, including village infrastructure development.

Not only that, but a marketing plan for ecobrick-based products is also in the works, with the hope that these products will appeal to a wider market. This will have a real economic impact on the community, while raising awareness of the importance of plastic waste management both locally and nationally.

The ‘EPIK 2024: Ecobricking Education’ programme has been proof that simple solutions like ecobricking can have a tremendous impact. By turning plastic waste into useful materials, the people of Sukarame Village have not only managed to keep their environment clean, but also improve their quality of life through creativity and cooperation.

In the long term, the programme is expected to strengthen awareness of the importance of a clean and healthy environment and empower communities to take an active role in nature conservation. Ecobricks are a clear example of how a creative approach to waste management can bring about sustainable positive change for the environment and society.

With a strong commitment from all parties, Sukarame Village can become a pioneer in the innovative plastic waste management movement, making waste no longer a problem, but an opportunity to create a better future.