UMS Zero Waste Movement Creates a Clean and Sustainable Campus

The zero waste and energy conservation movement is being actively promoted at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), with the goal of creating a campus that is clean, healthy, environmentally friendly, and sustainable.

This commitment is set out in a recent circular addressed to the entire UMS academic community. UMS Rector Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum. invited all campus members to collectively build a culture of environmental awareness through simple steps that can be taken in everyday activities.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us together realize the UMS Zero Waste Campus. Starting with simple things: always carry a tumbler, reduce plastic use, and sort and process waste," said the UMS Rector on Monday (8/6/2026).

This step is hoped to reduce the volume of waste produced on campus. Data from the UMS ranking team indicates that waste produced on campus in 2025 was estimated to reach 31.8 tonnes, down from 36 tonnes in 2024.

Through Letter Number 358/U/A.7-11/V/2026 on Zero Waste and Energy Conservation, UMS affirmed that this movement is part of the institution's commitment to reducing single-use plastic, increasing awareness of waste sorting, and encouraging wise energy use across the campus. The circular is expected to significantly reduce total waste production in the years ahead.

The UMS academic community is urged not to use single-use plastic water bottles and to replace them with reusable tumblers. Campus members are also asked to dispose of and sort waste according to its type so that waste management can run more optimally.

UMS Rector Prof. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum. inspecting the drinking water refill station at the UMS Faculty of Engineering, April 27, 2026. 

Beyond waste reduction, UMS is also encouraging an energy conservation culture by turning off lights, air conditioning, computers, and other electronic devices after use. The use of natural light and natural air circulation is also recommended where possible.

The UMS Rector stressed that the success of the Zero Waste Campus movement depends not only on institutional policy but also on the active participation of all campus members.

"Great change always begins with small habits. By carrying a tumbler, reducing plastic, sorting waste, and using energy wisely, we are already contributing to creating a healthier and more sustainable campus environment," he said.

Head of the UMS Resource Planning and Development Division, Prof. Kussudyarsana, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., emphasized that the spirit of zero waste must go beyond simply reducing single-use plastic bottles. It must also ensure that whatever is used is genuinely put to optimal use.

"In every event we often give away merchandise in the form of tumblers. But if there are too many tumblers and they end up unused, that itself becomes new waste. The spirit is not just about owning a tumbler but about using it sustainably," he explained.

In his view, behavioral change is the key to realizing a waste-free campus. The use of a tumbler therefore needs to be accompanied by awareness of reducing single-use plastic consumption and the habit of sorting waste from the source.

Writer: Maysali Sudarwati

Editor: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid