Kulon Progo – Students from the Undergraduate Psychology Study Program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) continue to contribute to community empowerment through the Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN). One such initiative was carried out by Noel Ronaldo Saragih, an undergraduate psychology student who conducted his KKN activities in the Panjatan area, Kulon Progo Regency, under the supervision of Annisa Nur Harwiningtyas, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psikolog.

Through a program titled “REPLASTI: Reresik Pikiran lan Lingkungan”, Noel encouraged community members to utilize plastic bottle waste by transforming it into useful handicrafts. The program was initiated in response to the large amount of plastic bottle waste found in Panjatan IV Village as well as the relatively low level of community awareness regarding creative and sustainable waste management.

The activity was conducted on February 22, 2026, from 09:00 to 12:00 WIB, involving 22 community members as participants. The program was delivered through a combination of psychoeducation sessions and hands-on training, where participants learned how to create handicrafts from used plastic bottles, such as keychains and decorative flower ornaments. During the session, the student explained the importance of proper waste management and guided participants step by step in transforming plastic bottles into simple craft products.

Noel explained that the activity aimed not only to reduce plastic waste but also to raise community awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability. “Through this activity, we hope to demonstrate that plastic bottle waste still has practical value when managed creatively. In addition to helping protect the environment, these crafts can also become a productive activity for community members,” he said.

Throughout the activity, participants showed great enthusiasm in following each stage of the craft-making process. They actively experimented with transforming used plastic bottles into various simple decorative items that could be used at home.

The positive impact of the program has begun to appear within the community. During follow-up visits to residents’ homes, the student observed that several participants had displayed flower decorations made from plastic bottles in their living rooms. This indicates that community members not only understood the material presented but had also begun applying the skills they learned.

Through this initiative, students from the Undergraduate Psychology Study Program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta contribute to promoting environmental awareness while strengthening the role of higher education institutions in community engagement. The program also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action, through the promotion of creative and sustainable plastic waste management at the community level.