Strengthening Waste Management Towards a Circular Economy Through Eco Pillows and Liquid Compost: Penguatan Pengelolaan Sampah Menuju Ekonomi Sirkular Melalui Eco Pillow dan Kompos Cair

Despite the Family Welfare Movement (FWM) in Waiheru Village having the potential to be a strategic driver in waste management, they still face various problems such as less comprehensive knowledge about the circular economy among all PKK members, low collective waste management skills, and the absence of a business model. This Community Service Program (CSP) aims to strengthen the PKK's capacity toward a circular economy by improving their understanding of waste management, their skills in making eco pillows from plastic waste and liquid compost from organic waste, as well as the development of a business model. The CSP utilized the Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) method and included socialization, business model development training, implementation of appropriate technology, mentoring, and program evaluation and sustainability. The results of the CSP showed an increase in partner understanding of the circular economy concept by 35%, evidenced by a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores. Through technology implementation, partners successfully produced seven eco pillows from thin plastic waste and four liters of liquid compost from household organic waste. Furthermore, partners were able to develop business models for the eco pillow and liquid compost, which serve as the foundation for the PKK's collective business development. The main contribution of this CSP lies in the innovative integration of waste management education, the production of eco pillows and liquid compost, and the development of a business model as a single, community-based circular economy ecosystem. This integration represents an approach that has not been previously implemented in Waiheru Village. Through this integration, it is expected to enhance the partners' capacity in managing waste and strengthen the sustainability of community-based waste management.