Cultivating a circular farming and organic waste management system in Banuywangi

In Banyuwangi, the Clean Oceans through Clean Communities (CLOCC) programme is taking steps to create a circular bioeconomy in the intersection of waste management and agriculture, to reduce methane emissions and recover valuable resources from waste. 

At the core of this work is the critical climate mission of reducing methane emissions. Methane is a super pollutant, over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. When organic waste like food scraps and garden waste is dumped in landfills, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing massive amounts of methane.

With the support of the Global Methane Hub (GMH), CLOCC-partner Yayasan Rijig Pradana Wetan (YRPW) is proving that village-level waste management has multiple benefits: both cleanliness and climate action.

78% of waste was unmanaged

To understand the urgency of our mission in Indonesia, we have to look at the data. A baseline study conducted by CLOCC in 2020 revealed a staggering reality for the Banyuwangi Regency: 78% of all waste generated leaked into the environment. This means roughly 666 tons of waste every single day (over 243,000 tons annually) was burned in the open, buried, dumped on vacant land, or tossed directly into rivers and waterways.

A critical part of this leakage is related to its composition. The waste stream is heavily dominated by organics, accounting for 65% to 75%. Food and kitchen scraps alone make up about 50%, while garden waste adds another 15%. When this organic mass rots in the environment without oxygen, it creates a "methane bomb."

Why reducing Methane is critical

Methane constitutes a significant climate threat, over 80% more potent than CO2 at trapping heat over a 20-year period. Landfills and open dumping are the third-largest source of human-related methane globally. This constitutes both a challenge and an opportunity. 

Because organic waste is the largest fraction of the waste stream in Banyuwangi, managing it is a highly effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a circular bioeconomy. Reducing methane is a highly fast way to slow global warming today, providing an immediate "cooling" effect for the planet. 

Additionally, managing organic waste is also key to increasing plastics recycling, as it contributes to cleaner fractions of recyclables. Consequently, it's a win-win!

Integrated farming for methane reduction

The CLOCC programme is approaching the challenge with a holistic model to stop this leakage at the source. Instead of letting organic waste rot in the streets or rivers, we are transforming it into value for a new village economy through Integrated Farming.

How the circular system works: The first element is Aerobic Bioconversion through feeding organic waste to Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). Unlike decomposition in a landfill, this process is oxygen-rich and fast, meaning zero methane is produced.

The nutrient-dense larvae are harvested as high-quality feed for local poultry and aquaculture. We are already seeing daily egg production at our sites, turning "waste" into protein. 

The byproduct of the larvae (frass) and remaining green waste are processed into compost that can restore the soil. This is currently being used to prepare land for crops like water lettuce, creating a truly integrated agricultural system.

The path forward

Our goal is to turn every waste facility into a "gallery" of sustainability. By proving that methane reduction can produce evaluable agricultural products and compost, we are ensuring that the air stays cleaner and the local economy stays stronger. We aren't just managing waste, we are growing a cooler, cleaner future for the next generation of Banyuwangi.