Urban Community Engagement to Reduce and Prevent Food Waste at Household Level

Abstract

Indonesia faces a food waste problem, particularly at the household level. Food waste causes negative impacts on several aspects such as environment, society, and economy. Ironically, at the same time, Indonesia also has a serious hunger problem. Through community development programs, we aimed to empower households in recycling their food waste by eco enzyme and their awareness through an online challenge. Eco enzyme is an affordable and useful method to recycle food waste being a liquid product with many benefits such as insect repellent, organic fertilizer, general cleaner, air purifier, and laundry cleaner. The total participants of the eco enzyme workshop were 57 people. On the other hand, through an online campaign #MelawanFoodWate, 101 users took action to be conscious customers in shopping behavior. These activities were in collaboration with several stakeholders to ensure the success of the program. These programs can be considered an initiation to develop Food Smart City that focuses on the community-based movement and circular economy.

Community education approaches for food waste reduction in Indonesia: A systematic review

“…so that it can draw in a sizable audience for its online campaigns and seminars. A challenge that fosters positive relationships between participants and the organizers can be held by launching an online campaign [40]. Furthermore, the online campaign/seminar approach utilizes technology, particularly social media.…”

“…The urban community has also conducted this education program in the form of the campaign "DIY: Eco Enzyme," which persuades participants to recycle their food waste. Through this education program, many people would be influenced, and the climate action goal in the SDGs could be achieved [40], [51].…”

Food waste warriors: Indonesian communities engage through workshops and social media education

“…It also has not discussed social media as a potential method to reduce food waste. Contrary to the first research, the second research shows workshops and social media content regarding food waste [5]. Although it discusses both methods, there are several crucial contents that have not been listed in the online campaign.…”

“…Community advertising and success story spread potentially occur to improve audience comprehension regarding food waste [4]. Other research found that offline workshops and online campaigns through social media can engage several audiences to raise their awareness [5]. This is also done through community development programs.…”

“…In this program, participants understand how to recycle their food waste and be more responsible towards their waste also able to use commercial eco enzymes. Furthermore, it attracts and engages more participants in contributing to reducing food waste [5]. Another research has shown that the researcher educates several communities in Bekasi such as partners, traders, small-and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and society through workshops on making liquid organic fertilizer (POC).…”