Innovation in Waste Management Methods in Mamuju Regency, South Sulawesi Province

Waste management remains a major challenge in Indonesia, including in Mamuju Regency, due to the increasing volume of waste and low public awareness of sorting practices. Conventional “collect–transport– dispose” systems are insufficient to achieve sustainability, thus requiring innovative, community-based approaches. This research aims to analyze the implementation and obstacles of waste management in Mamuju Regency and identify innovations in management methods applied, especially through the existence of the Mamuju Keren Waste Bank (BSMK). The method used is a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques in the form of in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation to analyze the implementation and challenges of the Mamuju Keren Waste Bank (BSMK). The findings show that BSMK has successfully applied the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) principle, directly engaged the community through customer schemes and pick-up services, and reduced 9,203.3 kg of waste over the last two years. However, its effectiveness is constrained by limited human resources, infrastructure, and operational time. This study concludes that innovation in community-based waste management methods, such as BSMK, needs to be continuously supported in order to play a greater role in realizing a sustainable waste management system.