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Bandung, October 24, 2024 – Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) continues to innovate in support of environmentally-friendly waste management. One of the latest innovations developed by ITB's research team is the Constructed Wetland model, designed to treat waste from Garut’s leather tanning industry. This innovation offers a practical and efficient solution that can be adopted by various industrial scales, including household-level industries.

Constructed Floating Wetland Model
The Constructed Floating Wetland model was developed as a simple yet effective waste treatment solution. The model uses a framework made from PVC pipes measuring 2 x 1 meters, equipped with filter media made of fibers. Additionally, plants like elephant grass, cat’s tail, and canna lilies are used as natural filtering media. The advantages of this model lie in its relatively low cost and easy maintenance. This system can be applied to waste ponds of any leather tanning industry and local Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP).

Simple Tiered Constructed Wetland Model
Besides the floating model, the ITB team also introduced a tiered Constructed Wetland model. This smaller-scale model uses three containers arranged in tiers. Each container contains filtration media such as gravel, charcoal, and fibers, which work gradually to filter wastewater. The result is water that can be used for household needs (excluding direct consumption). This makes it an efficient solution at the household level, making it suitable for adoption by communities around the leather tanning industry.

In his explanation, Dr. Yuli, one of the principal researchers from the ITB team, stated, “We hope that this innovation can be adopted by the leather tanning industry in Garut. The presence of this *Constructed Wetland* will reduce the levels of pollutants in the wastewater produced, thus maintaining a clean environment. However, commitment from local government and entrepreneurs is needed to implement appropriate waste management standards.”

Government Support and the Role of Communal WWTP
According to Dr. Yuli, the sustainability of this solution highly depends on active support from the local government. He emphasized that the revitalization of communal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) at each factory is a strategic step to ensure optimal management of wastewater.

“We hope that the local government can take a more serious role in monitoring and ensuring that each factory has a properly functioning WWTP. It is the fundamental right of the community to enjoy a clean environment. We at ITB are ready to collaborate with the government and entrepreneurs to make this happen,” emphasized Dr. Yuli.

With this workshop, it is hoped that the people of Garut will become more aware of the importance of proper and sustainable waste management. Active participation from various stakeholders, including the government, industry, and community, is the key to achieving a clean and healthy environment. ITB, through the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM), is committed to continuously developing technologies that benefit both society and the environment.

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