MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The inspiring transformation of Mardiko, a community group supported by the Muhammadiyah Council for Community Empowerment (MPM), continues to draw attention—most recently from the Secretariat of the Women’s Organization Cooperation Body (BKOW) of Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY). On April 14, BKOW representatives visited Mardiko’s facility in Piyungan, Bantul, and provided assistance to its members.
MPM Chairperson M. Nurul Yamin expressed his appreciation for the growing support from various groups. “We’re thankful for the attention given to Mardiko’s progress. It reflects a shared belief in the power of transformation,” he said.
Mardiko itself has undergone a meaningful change—not only in name, from Makaryo Adhi Ngayogyokarto to Makaryo Adhi Katon, but in its role. What began as a group of informal waste pickers has now become a cooperative of waste managers and entrepreneurs.
Before the government shut down the Piyungan waste processing site, Mardiko had over 500 members, some coming from outside the region. That number has since dropped to around 150, yet the group remains strong and inclusive, with both men and women actively involved.
“Our mission is to transform waste pickers into skilled waste processors,” said Yamin. “Now they work collectively as entrepreneurs and operate a legally recognized cooperative.”
Today, the group manages its own facility, turning household and institutional waste into valuable products. Organic waste is used to cultivate maggots, which are then used as natural feed for egg-laying hens raised by the group. Non-organic waste is sorted and sold, while the remaining waste is processed further.
In the near future, the team plans to turn leftover waste into items like concrete paving blocks or asphalt, which can be used for roadwork or decorative projects. Yamin emphasized that the production house is not only an economic asset. It also serves as a learning space for the public, a social project, and a hands-on lab for Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah universities.
Meanwhile, Maryono, the group’s leader, shared that Mardiko has recently launched a poultry business under the brand TelurMoe.
“We make sure nothing goes to waste. Everything that enters our production house is sorted carefully using machines,” he said.
He explained that organic waste is further processed into compost, maggot feed, and eco-enzymes. With the support of MPM, the egg farming initiative was introduced to boost the group’s income.
Currently, Mardiko processes four to five tons of waste per day, collected from households and institutions in Yogyakarta, Bantul, and Sleman.
In addition, Siti Azizah, representing the BKOW and Chair of the 2025 Kartini Day Committee, praised Muhammadiyah for its commitment to gender-inclusive and sustainable empowerment.
“We hope today’s visit leads to long-term collaboration in supporting inclusive and community-driven development, as Muhammadiyah has always done,” said Azizah.
