Integrating Technology to Enhance Financial Sustainability of Waste Bank in Cilebut Timur

Abstract

Community-based waste banks play an important role in supporting environmental sustainability while creating economic value for local communities. However, many waste banks continue to face operational and financial challenges that limit their long-term sustainability. One such challenge is experienced by the Waste Bank of Kampung Ramah Lingkungan Berseri, RW 14, Cilebut Timur, Bogor Regency, Indonesia. The institution still relied on manual financial management and sold recyclable plastic waste without further processing, resulting in relatively low economic returns. This Community Service Program aimed to strengthen the sustainability of the waste bank through the integration of appropriate technology and digital financial literacy. The program consisted of providing a plastic shredding machine, technical training on machine operation and maintenance, and educational workshops on digital financial management, including digital bookkeeping, electronic payment systems, and digital investment awareness. The implementation adopted participatory approaches involving observation, needs assessment, training, mentoring, and evaluation. A total of thirty-nine participants consisting of waste bank administrators and community members participated in the activities. The results demonstrated improvements in participants’ understanding of digital financial management, increased awareness of financial sustainability, and enhanced operational capacity through the utilization of plastic shredding technology. Furthermore, the intervention increased the economic value of recyclable plastic materials by enabling value-added processing before sale. These findings indicate that integrating appropriate technology with digital financial literacy contributes positively to strengthening waste bank sustainability while promoting community empowerment and supporting circular economy initiatives. Outputs generated from this activity include educational videos, scientific publications, mass media dissemination, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).