UMS Provide Incinerator Aid to TPST Mardiko for Waste Management

The Community Service Team (PKM) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) provided an incinerator to the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) Makaryo Adi Ngayogyakarta (Mardiko), Piyungan, Bantul, Yogyakarta. This initiative was made possible through a research grant from the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRTPM), under the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.

TPST Mardiko is a special community developed by the Community Empowerment Council (MPM) of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah. This group was formed after the Final Waste Disposal Site (TPA) in Piyungan, which had been operating for 29 years, was shut down by the Sultan in 2023. As a result, many scavengers lost their source of income.

The incinerator device provided by the UMS Community Service Team.

Prof. Ir. Sarjito, M.T., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Special Communities and 3T Areas, stated that MPM PP Muhammadiyah is continuously striving to ensure scavengers can still earn a living. One of the efforts is by building a production house that complies with government regulations, which mandates that it must receive and process waste.

Sarjito explained that four types of waste are processed: organic, recyclable, diaper, and leaf waste. Organic waste is processed into maggot feed. Recyclables are items that can be sold again. Leaf waste is turned into compost. Diapers, on the other hand, are categorized as hazardous and toxic waste (B3), as their materials can be harmful to health and the environment.

"The UMS PKM Team created an incinerator to destroy diaper waste by burning it," said Sarjito, who is also the lead proposer of the PKM project on Appropriate Technology Application for Creative Economy-Based Waste Processing in the Mardiko Piyungan Scavenger Group.

The UMS Community Service Team poses for a photo with TPST Mardiko members.

The team consists of three UMS lecturers, Prof. Ir. Sarjito, M.T., Ph.D., Alfia Magfirona, S.T., M.T., Drs. Wiyadi, M.M., Ph.D., and four UMS students: Ananda Fazira Marfuah, Bayu Septi Aji, Naufal Rozan, and Dzulfiqar Wibisono.

Maryana, Head of the Mardiko Scavenger Community, stated that the incinerator assistance has resolved a major issue for TPST Mardiko.

"Since receiving the incinerator, we’ve been able to burn up to one ton of residual waste daily. Previously, we had to send it to other communities and pay a fee," she explained.

Maryana also expressed her gratitude to DRTPM for entrusting UMS with the research grant, which provides the much-needed incinerator for the community.

Writer: Yusuf

Editor: Gede

Source: News UMS