KULON PROGO – The Community Service (PKM) team from the Biology Study Program, Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (FMIPA UNY), has implemented a mentoring program for the managers of the Bukit Cubung tourist destination in Jatirejo Village, Lendah, Kulon Progo. The program focused on strengthening the capacity of local partners to manage restaurant waste through waste-sorting education and the provision of adequate waste-management facilities.

The Head of the Community Service Team, Kuntum Febriyantiningrum, S.Si., M.Sc., stated that the most crucial initial step in preserving the Bukit Cubung karst ecosystem is maintaining discipline in sorting waste directly at its source. Based on observational data, Bukit Cubung Restaurant generates an average of 10–15 kg of waste per day, which has so far remained mixed between organic and inorganic waste.

“Our primary focus is to provide restaurant managers and Pokdarwis members with technical knowledge on how to properly separate waste. To support this effort, we also provided physical facilities in the form of three sets of segregated waste bins,” Kuntum explained at the activity site.

The waste bins provided have a capacity of 50 liters per unit and are divided into two main categories: organic waste (green) and inorganic waste (yellow). The placement of these segregated bins is intended to prevent food waste from the restaurant kitchen from being mixed with plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable materials.

This activity is part of the 2026 Community Service Program under the Dosen Berkegiatan di Luar Kampus (DLK) scheme, involving collaboration between FMIPA UNY lecturers and students and the productive partner BUMDes Binangun Jati Unggul. The main target of the program is to establish a consistent waste-management system so that at least 70% of waste generated in the restaurant area can be properly sorted before being transported to the final disposal site.

Director of BUMDes Binangun Jati Unggul, Tristi Sintawati, S.E., stated that the provision of facilities and educational support has greatly assisted the managers in maintaining the cleanliness and aesthetic quality of the tourist area. “With the new segregated waste bins and the education provided by the UNY team, we hope that the managers will become increasingly disciplined in maintaining cleanliness, ensuring that Bukit Cubung remains a comfortable destination for visitors as an eco-educational tourism site,” she concluded.

Through orderly waste segregation, the program is expected to reduce the risk of soil and water pollution affecting the sensitive karst structures in the Jatirejo area, while also contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting responsible consumption and production.