Turning Organic Waste Into Opportunity with Global Methane Hub in Banyuwangi

Earlier this year, CLOCC teamed up with the Global Methane Hub (GMH) to launch a joint initiative to tackle organic waste across seven rural municipalities in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. The program focuses on Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion, village-level waste improvements, and a new elementary school curriculum. The curriculum is designed to introduce the younger generation to the topic, and create an understanding of why managing waste matters, and the simple steps they can take in daily life. At its heart, it transforms waste into opportunity: cleaner villages, stronger local economies, and a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

The initiative is structured around three work packages. The first focuses on establishing an industrial-scale Maggot Center that converts organic waste into valuable Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) products such as protein-rich feed and soil enhancers. The second strengthens village waste management systems, expanding household services, upgrading community recovery facilities, and building local operator capacity. The third brings waste literacy into classrooms through the Sekolah Sigap Rijig curriculum, turning children into champions of the 3Rs and role models for their families and communities.

Extract from teaching module for elementary schools co-created with the Rijig Pradana Wetan Foundation.

Progress is visible on all fronts. At the Maggot Center Banyuwangi, nearly two tonnes of organic waste are already being processed each month, close to the annual target, with hotels and restaurants supplying a steady stream of food scraps. While village-to-hub flows of larvae are still in their early stages, the facility is preparing to expand into dried BSFL and flour production, supported by technical expertise and new machinery delivered through strong local partnerships.

Village-level systems are also gaining momentum. More than 10,000 households and businesses are now subscribed to waste services, surpassing expectations. TPS3R facilities have processed over 1,300 tonnes of waste this year, diverting more than 500 tonnes from landfill. Operator training, standard operating procedures, and ongoing social campaigns are helping raise participation and improve feedstock quality, laying the groundwork for greater methane reduction as throughput increases.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the launch of Sekolah Sigap Rijig, a comprehensive teaching module for elementary schools co-created with the Rijig Pradana Wetan Foundation. The curriculum introduces children to the importance of waste management in a way that is simple, engaging, and practical. With age-appropriate language, illustrations, and hands-on activities, students learn about different types of waste and their impacts, explore the 3Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—practice composting and creative reuse, and take part in activities that make them change-makers in their own communities. Already more than 1,350 pupils have been reached, supported by new waste-sorting facilities, refill stations, and Green Teams on campus. Parents, teachers, and food vendors are being brought along too, building a whole-school movement toward plastic-free canteens and sustainable habits.

At the halfway point, the initiative is already making meaningful differences in daily life in Banyuwangi. Villages now have functioning BSF systems in place, schools are buzzing with Green Teams and refill stations, and the Maggot Center is steadily turning food scraps into valuable products. The transformation is visible: more households are signed up for collection services, children are taking waste lessons back to their families, and operators are running facilities with new confidence and skill. The months ahead promise even more growth as larvae production expands, and the school program inspires broader community action.

By embedding waste literacy in classrooms while building circular systems in communities, CLOCC and GMH are showing how climate action can start at the village level and ripple outward. The result is more than just reduced methane—it is a foundation for healthier communities, stronger local economies, and a generation ready to face environmental challenges with energy, creativity, and commitment.