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FORMOSA NEWS - BauBau - The global waste problem has transformed into a multidimensional crisis driven by population growth and shifting modern consumption patterns. Facing this critical situation, a comprehensive study has proven that a community-based circular economy model can fundamentally alter how public behavior interacts with the environment. This national-scale research was conducted by Indonesian scholars Asri Alkadri from Politeknik BauBau and Suryo Ediyono, published in May 2026 in the Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR). Through this systematic review, the researchers revealed that the presence of waste banks in residential areas does not merely serve as basic waste disposal infrastructure, but effectively acts as a non-formal educational platform that significantly enhances community environmental literacy.

Background: Shifting Mindsets Through Economic Incentives

According to the latest global data, the world generates approximately 2.24 billion tons of solid waste annually, a figure projected to climb sharply without radical intervention at the grassroots level. In Indonesia, conventional waste management relying on the "collect-transport-dump" method has failed to keep pace with soaring domestic waste production. This is where the innovative waste bank system steps in as a crucial solution.

Supported by strategic policies like the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 14 of 2021, waste banks have expanded rapidly across Indonesia, reaching over 39,000 operational units nationwide. The concept is unique because it integrates cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitude), and behavioral aspects into a highly practical process: residents separate their household waste, deposit it into the bank, and derive direct economic value from their savings.

Methodology: Synthesizing Scores of Cross-Border Studies

To map the effectiveness of this platform accurately, Asri Alkadri and Suryo Ediyono deployed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) adopting international PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The research team gathered, screened, and validated 1,248 scientific articles from reputable global databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and SINTA, spanning the 2020–2025 publication period. Following strict quality screening, 54 research papers were selected for deep thematic analysis using a narrative synthesis approach to chart the real impact of waste banks on human behavior.

Key Findings: Rising Awareness Met by Sustainability Challenges

The analysis of the scientific literature uncovered several critical facts regarding the significant contributions of waste banks, including:

  1. Boosted Environmental Literacy: Active public participation in waste sorting drastically expands ecological knowledge compared to theoretical lectures alone. "Learning by doing" triggers a deeper, more permanent internalization of sustainability values.
  2. Winning Educational Strategies: Participatory learning models, interactive social campaigns, school-based activities, and financial incentives were identified as the most powerful strategy mix to spark initial behavioral changes among residents.
  3. The Long-Term Behavioral Gap: The study highlighted an intriguing contradiction. While public awareness and ecological knowledge surged, actual behavioral changes often proved temporary and highly dependent on external drivers. When economic incentives dropped or the internal management of a waste bank wavered, community participation tended to slide down as well.

Institutional and Operational Roadblocks in the Field

Despite its massive potential, Alkadri and Ediyono's research highlights five major challenges that frequently stifle the long-term sustainability of waste bank programs:

  • Limited initial financial support and working capital.
  • Inadequate operational infrastructure at the local level.
  • Fluctuating and inconsistent community participation.
  • Weak policy integration from local governments.
  • Insufficient managerial capacity among waste bank operators.

Strategic Implications: The Path Toward Digitalization and Social Entrepreneurship

This research holds substantial implications for public policy, businesses, and education. To prevent waste banks from becoming a short-lived trend, the researchers recommend transitioning toward digital technology integration, such as utilizing smartphone-based waste management apps and smart digital incentive platforms to boost efficiency and transparency.

Furthermore, transforming waste banks into social entrepreneurship models can build financial independence, enabling environmental education programs to run autonomously without relying heavily on external subsidies. For the educational sector, school-based waste banks can be optimized as invaluable contextual laboratories to cultivate eco-friendly habits in students from an early age.

About the Authors and Researchers

Asri Alkadri is a lecturer and researcher at Politeknik BauBau, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. He possesses deep expertise in environmental management, sustainable waste systems, and community education based on the circular economy.

Suryo Ediyono is a senior academic and researcher actively studying social dynamics, community empowerment, and institutional approaches to environmental conflict resolution in Indonesia.

Research Source Information:

Article Title: Waste Banks as a Tool for Environmental Education: A Systematic Review of Their Effectiveness, Strategies, and Implementation Challenge

Authors: Asri Alkadri & Suryo Ediyono
Journal Name: Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR)
Volume & Pages: Vol. 5, No. 5, 2026, pp. 747-758
Official DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijar.v5i5.16517
Publisher URL: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ijar