Community Empowerment through Waste Banks and Biopore Infiltration Holes to Support Cleanliness in the Sonorejo Reservoir Tourist Area

Abstract

Waste management in Sonorejo Village faces challenges, including the absence of an organized community system, limited waste separation, and the need to maintain cleanliness around the Sonorejo Reservoir tourism area. This program aimed to empower residents through an integrated waste management system combining a waste bank for recyclable inorganic waste and biopore infiltration holes for household organic waste. Conducted from 29 July to 25 August 2026, the program employed an Asset-Based Community Development approach involving asset identification, shared visioning, planning, implementation, and participatory evaluation. Activities included establishing waste bank organization and administration, waste-sorting education, biopore training and household practice, collective clean-up, and installing educational signs around the reservoir. Evaluation assessed core output attainment and community empowerment using a five-dimension rubric scored from 0 to 3. Seven of eight core output indicators were verified (87.5%). The empowerment score increased from 1/15 (6.7%) at baseline to 10/15 (66.7%) after implementation. These results indicate improved knowledge, practical skills, organizational capacity, administration, and collective action with facilitation. However, community independence cannot yet be confirmed because routine waste bank operations and sustained biopore use have not been monitored. Continued mentoring and monitoring are needed to support long-term implementation and sustainable tourism.