UMS's P2DB Community Service Team Uses Composters and Maggots to Manage Waste in Pabelan Village for Food Security

The Community Service team from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), through the P2DB scheme (Community Service Based on the Development and Empowerment of Fostered Villages), carried out a program titled "Community Empowerment Through Strengthening the Role of BUMDes in Developing a Sustainable Village Based on Waste Management and Food Security in Pabelan Village."

The activity involved various segments of the village community. Also present were Pabelan Village Head Sri Handoko, the Director of BUMDesa Paramajaya Pabelan, the PKK women's group, and young people from Pabelan Village, who took part as participants.

The involvement of these various community groups was an important part of building shared awareness that waste management isn't only about environmental cleanliness, but can also be developed into an activity with economic benefits that supports the village's food security.

The head of the Community Service Team, Ir. Alfia Magfirona, S.T., M.T., emphasized the importance of strengthening the community's and BUMDes's capacity to sustainably develop the village's potential. The P2DB program is designed so that the community not only gains knowledge, but also develops practical skills in turning organic waste into more useful products.

"BUMDes's role is expected to serve as a driving force in developing the results of this activity into an ongoing program with the potential to generate added economic value for the community," Alfia explained, Tuesday (22/9/2026).

The activity was held at the Pabelan Village Hall Office in two stages, on 12 and 29 August 2026, with a main focus on composter-making, organic waste processing, and the use of maggots as part of efforts to build a more sustainable village.

During the waste-processing session, participants received both material and hands-on practice on making composters as a simple method of processing household organic waste. Organic waste, previously seen as mere trash, can be processed into compost that's useful for improving soil quality and supporting farming activities as well as the use of household yards. The use of composters is also expected to help reduce the amount of organic waste discarded without any processing.

Besides composter-making, the activity brought in Suryono Arief Wijaya, S.T., an environmental practitioner, as a speaker. During the session, participants gained knowledge on managing organic waste through maggot cultivation. Using maggots can serve as an alternative method of processing organic waste, since they help reduce waste while also producing something usable, particularly as an alternative feed source.

The material wasn't only delivered theoretically, but also directed toward hands-on practice so participants could understand the stages of waste processing firsthand. Through this approach, the community is expected to be able to apply simple waste-management technology suited to the conditions and resources available in Pabelan Village.

"Knowledge about composters and maggots also opens up opportunities to develop productive activities that can be managed together with the community or through BUMDesa Paramajaya," Alfia said.

Hands-on organic waste management practice guided by Ir. Alfia Magfirona, S.T., M.T. (right). Photo: UMS Public Relation.

The activity received a positive response from participants. The results show that the material, delivery method, hands-on practice, and the program's relevance were seen as fitting the community's needs. Participants' enthusiasm was also evident from their active involvement in discussions and hands-on sessions throughout the activity.

The P2DB program itself is supported by UMS's Directorate of Research, Community Service, Publication, and IP Center (DRPPS). Waste management is expected not to stop at the training stage, but to develop into part of a sustainable village management pattern. Synergy among the village government, BUMDes, PKK, youth, universities, and practitioners serves as important capital in building a sustainable village capable of integrating environmental aspects, community economic empowerment, and food security.

Going forward, this activity is expected to strengthen the role of BUMDesa Paramajaya Pabelan in developing community-based waste management innovations. The use of composters and maggots can be developed not only as a solution to organic waste issues, but also as part of the village's circular economy system, one that turns waste into a resource with practical and economic value.

Writer: Maysali Sudarwati

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid