The Utilization of Used Goods as an Alternative Source of Additional Income for Residents of RT 15 RW 16 Waluya Village, East Cikarang

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Bekasi, West Java – The Utilization of Used Goods as an Alternative Source of Additional Income for Residents of RT 15 RW 16 Waluya Village, East Cikarang. This research was conducted by Wahyudin Ahmadi, Muhammad Syahril Sidiq, Anggi Puspita Sari, Siti Nurchaliza, Samsu, Rehan Setiadi, Muhammad Adio Fauzan, Meri Tri Nurhidayanti, Mansur S., Sudirman, and Febrito Handayani Sitohang from Panca Sakti University Bekasi, which was published in the Formosa Community Service Journal (JPMF) Volume 5 Number 1 in February 2026.

Research conducted by Wahyudin Ahmadi, Muhammad Syahril Sidiq, Anggi Puspita Sari, Siti Nurchaliza, Samsu, Rehan Setiadi, Muhammad Adio Fauzan, Meri Tri Nurhidayanti, Mansur S., Sudirman, and Febrito Handayani Sitohang revealed that behavior changes at the household level can have a direct impact on the family economy while improving the quality of the environment.

Waste Has Economic Value, But So Far Neglected

The research team found that before the program started, residents tended to sell used goods in mixed conditions. Wet cardboard, dirty metals, and mixed plastics make collectors give low prices. In fact, these goods have a higher economic value if they are sorted and maintained in quality.

Low knowledge, skills, and habits of sorting waste are the main causes. In addition, the absence of a structured management system makes the economic potential of used goods not optimally utilized.

Participatory Approach: Citizens Become the Main Actors

This program involves 50 residents with a participatory approach. Residents not only received materials, but directly practiced sorting techniques in their respective homes.

Implementation is carried out through four main stages:

Preparation and coordination with village officials.
Socialization about the concept of 3R and the economic value of used goods.
Technical training on cardboard, metal, and plastic sorting.
Field assistance and evaluation.

Evaluation was carried out through questionnaires, environmental observations, and comparison of selling prices before and after sorting. This combination of education and practice has proven to be effective in changing the knowledge as well as the behavior of residents.

Measurable Increase in Selling Prices

The data shows a noticeable increase in the selling value of second-hand goods after sorting:

Cardboard: from IDR 1,650/kg to IDR 2,100/kg (up 27.27%)
Metals: from IDR 5,500/kg to IDR 6,750/kg (up 22.73%)
Mixed plastics: from Rp2,100/kg to Rp2,600/kg (up 23.81%)

In general, all commodities experienced price increases between 16.67% and 33.33%. The biggest increase occurs in cardboard because its quality improves after it has been dried and stored properly.

In addition to the price increase, the residents' awareness score reached 3.74 (the highest), indicating a significant change in attitudes towards waste management. The score of the implementation of sorting practices reached 3.50, indicating that new habits are starting to form consistently.

Environmental Impact and Behavior Change

This program not only has an impact on income, but also on environmental cleanliness. Mixed waste is reduced, the environment becomes neater, and residents begin to have a simple storage system at home.

Before the activity, residents did not have the habit of sorting waste and there was no collective coordination in its management. Once the program is running, social participation increases and environmental awareness grows stronger.

Muhammad Syahril Sidiq from Panca Sakti University Bekasi emphasized that behavior change is the key to the success of the program. When residents understand the economic benefits directly, the motivation to consistently sort waste increases.

Field Challenges

Although the results were positive, a number of obstacles were still found, including:

The consistency of sorting is not even.
Limited storage containers in residents' homes.
Lack of information on the market price of used goods.
Participation that is not completely evenly distributed.

The research team recommended the formation of a management group or waste bank to maintain the sustainability of the program. Advanced training on entrepreneurship and second-hand goods processing is also considered important to expand the economic impact.

Community-Scale Circular Economy Model

This program is an example of the implementation of the circular economy at the micro level. With simple methods and low costs, residents are able to increase their income without large capital. This model is considered easy to replicate in other regions with similar characteristics.

For local governments, these findings can be the basis for community-based waste management policies. For the recycling industry sector, sorting at the source level will improve the quality of raw materials. Meanwhile, for families, this practice opens up additional opportunities for sustainable income.

Author Profile

• Wahyudin Ahmadi Universitas Panca Sakti Bekasi.
• Muhammad Syahril Sidiq Universitas Panca Sakti Bekasi.
• Anggi Puspita Sari, Siti Nurchaliza,, Samsu, Rehan Setiadi, Muhammad Adio Fauzan, Meri Tri Nurhidayanti, Mansur S., Sudirman, Febrito Handayani Sitohang Universitas Panca Sakti Bekasi

Research Source

Ahmadi, W., Sidiq, M. S., Sari, A. P., Nurchaliza, S., Samsu, Setiadi, R., Fauzan, M. A., Nurhidayanti, M. T., Mansur S., Sudirman, & Sitohang, F. H. (2026). The Utilization of Used Goods as an Alternative Source of Additional Income for Residents of RT 15 RW 16 Waluya Village, East Cikarang.

Journal of Community Service Formosa (JPMF), Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 15–24.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmf.v5i1.116

Official URL: https://ntlformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmf