Jakarta, 17 September – 11 October 2024 – Sustainable innovation continues to be the main focus in overcoming environmental challenges in Indonesia. One of the flagship projects born from the Technology for Indonesia (TFI) 2024 program is the Smart Garbage or smart trash can, the result of cross-campus collaboration between six students who received the Karya Salemba Empat Foundation (KSE) scholarship. This team named themselves Jagantara (Jaga Nusantara), with the vision of creating practical solutions that can improve waste management in Indonesia.
This follow-up research began with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) which was held at the Karya Salemba Empat Foundation (KSE) office in Mampang, South Jakarta. This FGD aims to explore innovative ideas and develop a framework before entering the development stage. The team then started a one-month internship period in Manggarai, South Jakarta, to finalize the concept and realize the smart trash can prototype they had planned before leaving for Jakarta.
In initial development during TFI, the team focused on using sensors to detect types of waste. By utilizing capacitive, ultrasonic and infrared technology, this trash can can differentiate between wet waste from organic and dry waste from inorganic. Apart from that, this system is equipped with a servo motor to open the lid automatically and a DFPlayer Mini module to provide interactive sound as a form of education to users.
The Jagantara Team consists of 6 KSE Scholarship recipient students with diverse backgrounds and expertise:
● Aulia Nisa Agus Setiana (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)
● Dhimas Kurniawan (UIN North Sumatra)
● Febriansyah (Tadulako University)
● Maria Yosef Usboko (Nusa Cendana University)
● Muhammad Akmal Hafizh (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)
● Muhammad Akmal Hafizhi (Eleven March University)
This cross-campus collaboration brings together expertise in technology, programming, design and project management. In a short time, they managed to develop a prototype that was not only innovative but also had the potential to be applied in a variety of environments.
This smart trash can has been tested in several locations, including KSE partners and several large companies such as BNI Securities, BCA, BRI Dana Mutual Sekuritas, Bank BTN, PT Cikarang Listrindo, Bank Indonesia and PT. Insight Investments Management (Insight). This implementation provides concrete evidence of the implementation of technology in facilitating better waste management.
Even though it shows high accuracy in detecting inorganic waste (100%), the smart trash can made by the Jagantara Team is still continuing to evaluate the production of the smart trash can product they made, especially in detecting dry organic waste.
Jagantara didn't stop at the initial prototype. The team has ambitious plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into the system. With AI, they plan to use machine learning algorithms integrated into cameras to detect waste types more accurately, while IoT allows users to monitor trash bin capacity in real-time via an app.
This innovative step is expected to have a more significant impact, both in increasing the efficiency of waste management and in educating the public about the importance of sorting waste from an early age. The success of the Jagantara team is also reflected in the achievements of one of its members, Dhimas Kurniawan, who received appreciation from the campus and the region after completing a TFI sustainability research internship. The university where he studied enthusiastically welcomed the programs and training initiated through the support of the Karya Salemba Empat Scholarship, showing the potential for positive impacts from this project.
This innovation not only provides a practical solution but also opens up opportunities for widespread implementation in Indonesia, where waste management is still a big problem. With a growing population and high levels of consumption, technology such as smart bins can help create a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
Jagantara hopes that their innovation can inspire more young people to contribute to environmental solutions that have a long-term impact. With strong commitment and sustainable development, this project is clear proof that collaboration and technology can create positive change for Indonesia.
