Yogyakarta – An inspiring study visit was held at the Organic Waste Processing Unit of Prambanan Temple by lecturers and students from the Waste Processing course of the Department of Food Technology and Agricultural Product Processing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), on Friday, October 3, 2025. The visit was also attended by two lecturers from the International Islamic University Malaysia, namely Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Armi Abu Samah and Dr. Airul Azizan Bin Zainudin.
On this occasion, Mr. Ratno Tumur, General Manager of PT Taman Wisata Candi Prambanan Ratu Boko, provided a comprehensive explanation of the organic waste processing system, which utilizes leaves and twigs collected from the Prambanan Temple tourism area. Mr. Ratno explained that their processing unit is capable of handling around one ton of leaf and twig waste per day.
The processing involves separately shredding the leaves and twigs, followed by anaerobic fermentation to produce high-quality compost. The resulting compost is then used to maintain various plants within the tourist area, supporting a sustainable environmental management program.
After the presentation, Dr. Armi and Dr. Airul gave valuable suggestions to optimize the quality and efficiency of the composting process. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to support microbial activity during fermentation.
This visit not only broadened students’ understanding of the organic waste-to-compost processing but also gave them insight into how such practices have potential for sustainable development. The discussions are expected to positively contribute to the Prambanan Organic Waste Processing Unit in improving the quality of their waste management operations, while strengthening collaboration with universities through waste processing research.
Written by: Okta I. Latifa