MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BANTUL – The Muhammadiyah Council for Community Empowerment (MPM) launched the Mardiko Waste Processing Center in Piyungan, Bantul, on Sunday, December 29.
This innovative project is a comprehensive approach to waste management, encompassing waste sorting, processing, and even livestock farming. The center will process organic waste to feed maggots, which in turn will be used as feed for laying hens. Non-organic waste will be transformed into construction materials like concrete blocks.
The Chairperson of the MPM M. Nurul Yamin highlighted that the center is a collaborative effort, involving various stakeholders including the Muhammadiyah Department of Charity Management (Lazismu).
“This is a result of collaboration among various parties to serve the community at the grassroots level,” said Yamin.
The Mardiko Waste Processing Center is a transformation of the Mardiko Waste Pickers Group, which has been supported by the MPM since 2016. The transformation was prompted by the impending closure of the Piyungan landfill, which threatened the livelihoods of the waste pickers.
“The closure of the Piyungan landfill posed a significant challenge to the economic and social well-being of the waste pickers. To address this, we have transformed the group into a waste processing center, equipping them with the skills and resources to adapt to the changing environment,” said Yamin.
The center’s name, Mardiko, has been transformed from “Makaryo Adi Ngayogyakarta” to “Makaryo Adi Katon,” reflecting the group’s evolution from waste pickers to waste processors and entrepreneurs. Yamin emphasized the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among the waste pickers, enabling them to adapt to challenges and create new opportunities.
The MPM is committed to ensuring that the waste processing center operates in an environmentally friendly manner. Yamin assured that the center is taking steps to minimize the environmental impact of its operations, particularly in terms of air pollution.
“We are working to make this facility a model for waste management, not only at the household level but also on a larger scale,” said Yamin.
