Wringinanom’s Community-Run Waste Facility Emerges as a Model for East Java

More than 50 participants from over 12 cities across Java took part in ZWA
Zero Waste Academy, officially launched bu Ecoton in collaboration with 
AZWI and GAIA. (Gresik 28 January 2026)

Gresik, Wednesday, 30January 2025 — A modest community-run waste facility in Wringinanom, Gresik, is quietly challenging the dominant, subsidy-heavy approach to urban waste management in East Java.“I am genuinely impressed that the Wringinanom waste facility can fully cover its own operational costs,” said Delima Prischa Cahya Purnama of Surabaya’s Development Planning Agency (Bappeko). “In Surabaya, neighbourhood waste facilities are entirely funded by the city budget.”

Her remarks came during the opening day of the Zero Waste Academy, officially launched by ECOTON Foundation in collaboration with the Zero Waste Indonesia Alliance (AZWI) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). The three-day programme is designed as an intensive learning space on source-based waste management and methane emission reduction.

More than 50 participants from over 12 cities and districts across Java took part, representing regional planning agencies (BAPPEDA), environmental departments, village and sub-district governments, academics, and environmental organisations.

The academy was formally opened by Dr Daru Setyo Rini, Director of ECOTON Foundation, alongside Arditra Risdiansah, Sub-district Head of Wringinanom; Yoko, Head of Wringinanom Village; and Abdul Rokhim, Chair of the TPST 3R Wringinanom Community-Based Management Group (KSM).

In her opening remarks, Dr Rini stressed that Indonesia’s waste crisis cannot be resolved through downstream solutions alone.

“The Zero Waste Academy is designed as a cross-sector collaboration space,” she said. “We want governments, communities, academics and waste facility managers to learn directly from real-world practice. Our hope is that participants return home not only with knowledge, but with concrete action plans that can be integrated into local policies.”

Learning from Households, Not Just Technology

Following the opening session, participants visited households in Wringinanom Village that have been separating organic and inorganic waste at source. The visits demonstrated that waste management can begin at the household level in ways that are both simple and economically beneficial.

Titin, a resident and customer of TPST 3R Wringinanom, explained how daily waste separation has changed her routine.

“Sorting waste turns out to be very easy — and actually rewarding,” she said. “By separating our waste, we receive discounts on refill products like soap, which come without single-use plastic packaging. It helps us reduce plastic waste, especially sachets.”

Inside the Wringinanom 3R Facility

Participants were then taken to the TPST 3R Wringinanom facility to observe the waste management system firsthand — from detailed waste categorisation and processing flows to administrative record-keeping.

They were also introduced to a low-cost composting method using simple ground pits, a technique considered affordable, easy to replicate, and effective for managing organic waste at village and neighbourhood scale.

Eni, a representative from the Batu City Environmental Agency (DLH), praised the approach.

“This simple composting method is highly relevant for village-based waste facilities,” she said. “It requires minimal investment, is easy for communities to understand, and has a significant impact in reducing waste sent to landfill.”

Governance and Financing Matter

A discussion session with the Wringinanom TPST management group focused on institutional structure, administration and financing. The conversation underscored that successful waste management depends not only on technology, but also on strong, transparent and sustainable governance systems.

Abdul Rokhim, Chair of the KSM TPST 3R Wringinanom, spoke candidly about the challenges.

“Leading a community-based waste facility is not easy,” he said. “We have to build residents’ trust, maintain consistent waste separation, and manage administration and finances transparently. But when the system works and people feel the benefits, those challenges can be overcome together — especially with village-level regulatory support on service fees and fair wages for workers.”

Pushing for Methane Reduction Action Plans

The academy continued with a technical session on Methane Reduction Action Plans, delivered by Amirudin Muttaqin of ECOTON. The organisation plans to support three cities or districts in developing methane reduction strategies for the waste sector, particularly at landfill sites.

“These action plans are expected to be integrated into regional planning documents such as Musrenbang and RPJMD, and supported through local government budgets,” Amirudin explained. “Around 60% of Indonesia’s waste consists of organic food waste. Managing organic waste at source is therefore critical to prevent it from ending up in landfills and generating methane emissions.”

Microplastics: The Invisible Consequence

The first day concluded with a visit to ECOTON’s office, including a tour of Refillin, ECOTON’s refill-based social enterprise aimed at reducing single-use plastics, and a visit to the ECOTON Microplastics Laboratory.

Participants examined research findings on microplastics and observed air samples containing microplastics linked to poor waste practices, particularly open waste burning.

Titik, a waste facility manager from Oro-Oro Ombo, Batu City, said the findings were alarming.

“I never realised that burning waste could produce microplastics in the air that humans can inhale,” she said. “It really opened our eyes — poor waste management doesn’t just harm the environment, it directly threatens public health.”

Towards a Waste-Free Indonesia by 2030

The Zero Waste Academy will continue for three days across Gresik Regency and Kediri City, serving as an intensive learning platform for improving local waste management systems. Organisers hope the programme will help drive concrete policies and practices toward Indonesia Bebas Sampah 2030 — a waste-free Indonesia.