The city of Yogyakarta is currently facing a waste emergency. Waste has become a significant concern in Indonesia. The Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) actively participates in inspiring the community and external visitors by managing waste on campus since 2022.
The primary goal of waste management at UGM is not economic gain but environmental benefit. This management includes efforts to preserve the environment by not littering with plastic waste, maintaining health by creating a clean environment, and preventing odor pollution and the breeding grounds of disease vectors. Additionally, UGM supports its academic community members who face challenges in disposing of economically valuable plastic waste due to limited disposal facilities at home or in boarding houses.
To educate the public, the Dean of FKG UGM, Prof. drg. Suryono, S.H., M.M., Ph.D., along with other members, released a video titled “Sampah Menjadi Berkah” ("Waste to Grace"). This video is aimed at individuals, community members, and policymakers. With this video, it is hoped that the behavior of each individual, especially within the campus environment, will shift towards better waste management, supporting FKG UGM in achieving Zero Waste. As an educational institution, FKG UGM is committed to setting an example by fostering a "no-littering" culture and being able to sort and select waste properly.
Consistent waste management behavior is expected to become a habit. As a result, everyone involved will be happy to follow suit. This will bring benefits such as a cleaner environment, better health, and increased overall well-being. The implementation of these activities supports “Education for Sustainable Development” and is expected to serve as the best example for individuals and communities, as well as inspire government policy. With a good waste management culture, the burden of waste management at Final Disposal Sites (TPA) will be reduced, so that TPAs will only receive residues that need to be processed. This activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), by promoting effective and sustainable waste management.
