Kulon Progo – Students from the Undergraduate Psychology Study Program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) continue to demonstrate their contribution to community empowerment through the Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN). One such initiative was carried out by Marvel Sampuara Nathaniel Panjaitan, an undergraduate psychology student who is a member of KKN Regular Group 17 assigned to Sempu Hamlet, Bumirejo Village, Kulon Progo Regency.

Recognizing that household waste management in the community remains limited, particularly in the management of used cooking oil waste, Marvel and the KKN team initiated a training program titled “Standardization of Used Cooking Oil Waste Processing into Liquid Soap” for the administrators of the Sempu Waste Bank. The activity, conducted on February 8, 2026, was attended by approximately 30 participants, most of whom were active members of the local Waste Bank management.

In Sempu Hamlet, waste management has already been implemented through the establishment of a Waste Bank managed by around 15 active administrators. However, current waste management practices mainly focus on solid waste such as plastic and paper. Meanwhile, used cooking oil from households is often disposed of directly into the soil or drainage systems, and in some cases it is reused repeatedly for cooking. These practices can potentially pollute the environment and pose risks to human health.

Through this training program, the KKN students aimed to provide both knowledge and practical skills to the community on how to utilize used cooking oil in a safer and more beneficial way. The activity began with a presentation on the environmental and health impacts of used cooking oil waste. This was followed by a demonstration of the process of converting used cooking oil into liquid soap, after which participants were invited to practice each stage of the production process themselves.

The training session was conducted in an interactive atmosphere. Participants actively asked questions, engaged in discussions, and directly participated in the soap-making process until they successfully produced a usable product.

Marvel explained that the program was designed not only to provide technical skills but also to raise community awareness about the importance of responsible household waste management. “Through this training, we hope to show that used cooking oil, which is usually considered waste, can actually be transformed into a useful product. We hope that the Waste Bank administrators can become pioneers in promoting more environmentally friendly waste management practices in the community,” he stated.

Positive responses were also expressed by the participants. One of the Waste Bank administrators noted that the training provided new insights for the community. “We learned that used cooking oil does not necessarily have to be discarded. It can actually be processed into soap that is useful and even has potential economic value,” she explained.

This initiative represents one of the contributions of students from the Undergraduate Psychology Study Program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta in supporting sustainable development within the community. The program is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action, through the promotion of more environmentally friendly household waste management.