Students of the Off-Campus Learning Program (PLK) of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) recently carried out a community-based organic waste management program through maggot farming, utilizing Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, in Pandan Hamlet, Somopuro Village, Jogonalan District, Klaten Regency, Central Java. The initiative, titled Eco Point, was designed to address the ongoing challenge of household organic waste that has not been optimally managed within the community.

Through this program, the UNY PLK students introduced maggot cultivation as a fast, efficient, environmentally friendly, and easily applicable method for processing organic waste. The approach does not require complex technology or significant financial investment. In addition to decomposing organic waste, harvested maggots also offer economic value, as they can be used as animal feed and organic fertilizer.

The Eco Point program was implemented by a team of UNY PLK students led by Andhika Ravael Milano as project coordinator, together with nine team members: Candra Dimas Saputra, Khaila Akasyah Nurfuadah Al Pahri, Erika Andaresta, Olivia Rena Hanavi, Calista Putri Zabrina, Cut Hanifah Astria, Zahwa Aulia Rahma, Naya Ramadina, and Figra Alensy. Throughout the program, the students conducted a series of activities, including community needs assessment, maggot house design, construction of the cultivation facility, installation of the facility at an agreed location, technical assistance, and the official handover of the program to local residents.

The maggot cultivation facility was established directly within the community to ensure that the decomposition process could be monitored easily and carried out effectively. The students actively involved residents of Pandan Wetan Hamlet, encouraging them not only to become beneficiaries of the program but also to gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage maggot farming independently after the PLK program concluded.

According to project leader Andhika Ravael Milano, the Eco Point program aims to foster public awareness of responsible organic waste management while creating a sustainable environmental solution.

“Through the Eco Point Program, we aim to help the community not only reduce organic waste problems in their surroundings but also build collective awareness that household waste can be transformed into something useful and valuable.”

He further emphasized that environmental issues cannot be solved through complaints alone but require consistent collective action and small everyday habits practiced by the community.

The program received a positive response from local residents. One resident, Alex, stated that maggot farming has been particularly beneficial for managing organic waste generated by his food business.

“These maggots are very beneficial for my food business because organic waste from my sales activities was often simply discarded.”

Through this initiative, the UNY PLK students hope that residents of Pandan Wetan Hamlet will continue the maggot farming practice independently, leading to improved and more sustainable organic waste management in the village. The program is also expected to raise environmental awareness while creating opportunities to transform household waste into resources with economic value.

The Eco Point program aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through the economic utilization of maggots; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by promoting a cleaner and healthier village environment; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through organic waste processing and sustainable waste management practices.