Transforming Environmental Awareness Through Waste Education Tourism: A Community Engagement Approach in Situsari Village

Abstract

Waste management remains one of the major environmental challenges in rural areas of Indonesia due to limited public awareness and inadequate waste handling practices. This community service program aimed to enhance environmental awareness through a waste education tourism initiative implemented in Situsari Village, Bogor Regency. The program adopted a participatory educational approach consisting of educational seminars, interactive discussions, waste segregation demonstrations, and the introduction of best practices from Kamikatsu, Japan, and Sweden's circular economy-based waste management system. Data were collected through direct observation, participant engagement, and qualitative evaluations conducted during the implementation of the program. The findings indicate an improvement in participants’ understanding of waste classification, waste segregation techniques, recycling opportunities, and the economic value of waste. Furthermore, the program encouraged a shift in community perceptions, leading residents to view waste not merely as an environmental burden but as a valuable resource with economic potential. The integration of educational tourism and community participation proved to be an effective strategy for promoting sustainable environmental behavior in rural communities. The program demonstrates that waste education tourism can serve as a community-based environmental education model that supports sustainable village development while strengthening local capacity for environmental stewardship.