Pilot Implementation of SOLARCOMPOST through KKN 52: A Solar-Powered Aerated Composter for Household Organic Waste in Mekar Sari, Balikpapan

Implementasi Awal SOLARCOMPOST melalui KKN 52: Komposter Aerob Bertenaga Surya untuk Pengelolaan Sampah Organik Rumah Tangga di Mekar Sari, Balikpapan

Abstract

Household organic waste management remains a practical environmental challenge in Mekar Sari, Balikpapan, where field observation during KKN 52 indicated that organic waste was not yet routinely processed at source. This community service program aimed to introduce and pilot SOLARCOMPOST, a 120-L solar-powered aerated composter, while strengthening community understanding of source-separated organic waste management. Activities comprised local coordination and needs identification, device assembly, staged electrical testing, socialization and demonstration, initial loading of organic material, and handover for continued use in RT 27. The system integrated a solar panel, charge controller, battery, digital timer switch, DC fan, perforated aeration pipe, and composter drum. A 24-hour functional test showed that the electrical circuit and timer-controlled fan operated according to the programmed schedule. Socialization and demonstration on 5 August 2026 at the Mekar Sari Village Office involved 30 participants, including neighborhood representatives. At the end of the KKN observation period, the unit had entered initial use and the composting process was still ongoing; therefore, compost maturity, mass reduction, odor control, and environmental performance were not yet quantified. The program demonstrates the feasibility of assembling and transferring a small-scale solar-assisted aeration system as a community service output, while indicating the need for post-KKN monitoring before claims about composting effectiveness or waste reduction can be made.