Dozens of students gathered in the hall of the Daarul Uluum Islamic Boarding School located in the Baranangsiang area of Bogor City, Wednesday (7/9/22). They seemed enthusiastic about listening to various materials on waste sorting. Some props regarding the types of garbage, were displayed in front of them. Such as junk installations, posters and others.

The event material was delivered attractively. They are divided into four groups. Each group discussed a different theme. There are discussions about rivers, garbage, plastics and how to sort waste. Each group is also accompanied by a facilitator. The discussions that were established between them were warm and pleasant. In between discussions, they also occasionally sang or shouted yel-yel.

"Ever throw out the garbage?" Asked a facilitator.

Some of them answered that they had done so. Not a few also admitted that they never littered. The location of the Daarul Uluum Islamic boarding school is right on the side of the Ciliwung river. This is also what underlies the educational event entitled "PSC Goes to School" and chose the pesantren as the location of the event. It is hoped that the students can be more aware of the importance of keeping the river clean from waste generation.

The point of the discussion that has been established between them, is regarding the importance of sorting garbage from the source. This is important so that the waste disposed of in the landfill (Landfill) is only residual. Meanwhile, waste that can be recycled or has economic value, can be reused.

Moments after the discussion session got underway, they conducted a garbage inspection. Several students rushed to carry sacks around the pesantren complex. Picking up every piece of garbage that exists in the territory. The types are diverse. Plastic bottles, slippers, cardboard, leftovers and so on. The garbage they managed to collect was then taken back to the hall room. The process of sorting garbage is carried out immediately. It is separated, and then put into a bucket according to its type.

"What is this rubbish?" A student asked, referring to a used plastic bottle.

"Inorganic!" replied the lai in unison.

"What's this one?" he asked again, showing a coffee sachet.

"Residue!"

In addition to the garbage inspection, the evening of the event continued by watching several documentaries about garbage and rivers. Some of the films screened were produced by the Rekam Nusantara Foundation.

Marsya, one of the students who participated in the event, said he was happy. Through the event, he admitted that he could understand more about garbage and the importance of keeping the river clean.

"We learned about how to process waste with Plastic Smart Cities. The impression can add knowledge, we come to know which is organic, inorganic and residual waste. Also so know which garbage can be recycled or sold. So add more insight," he said.

Marsya hopes that after the event, the students at the Daarul Uluum Islamic Boarding School can be more aware of protecting their environment. He is also committed to starting to sort out waste. Because in his opinion, just throwing the garbage in place, it is not enough.

The same thing was also conveyed by another student, Rizal. He said that so far, the assumption is that the garbage is a dirty and smelly thing. But after participating in the event, he understood more and more. That if managed properly, waste can also be recycled and generate more profits.

"It turns out that there is also waste that can be recycled back. For example, it is used as a handicraft that can be useful and can be reused. Then about the garbage in the river, especially plastic garbage, it is certainly very dangerous. Because it will damage the existing ecosystem in the river. Damaging fish dwellings," he said.Principal of Madrasah Aliyah Pesantren Daarul Uluum Rizal Azizi said, maintaining cleanliness is a teaching of prophet Muhammad SAW.

"The Messenger of Allah once warned to clean all things as much as you can. Because the religion of Islam is built from everything clean," he said.

He said that the education system in the pesantren is designed for full activities for 24 hours. Therefore, the movement of people in these locations is quite dense and fast. No doubt, this caused a lot of garbage.

"The more activities we do, the more waste will be left behind. Our job is how to do this abandoned waste not to provide free work for the other parties. Therefore, our mindset to manage waste is very important. very much in line with what pesantren Daarul Uluum aspires to do is to want all its citizens to be able to take their respective positions so that we can treat waste as well as possible," he said.

Mudirul Ma'had Daarul Uluum Fauzi Baats greatly appreciated the event. So far, he said, his party also has the same anxiety regarding waste. Especially the garbage in the Ciliwung river, right next to the pesantren he leads.

"Because our Pesantren geographically cannot be separated from the Ciliwung river. Often we give directions to the parties in this pesantren how important it is to maintain cleanliness, manage waste. We have a target to make this pesantren the cleanest in the city of Bogor," he said.

According to him, the history of civilization in various parts of the world cannot be separated from the existence of rivers. He said that Egyptian civilization could not be separated from the existence of the Niil river, China with its yellow river, India with the Ganges river, the Srivijaya Kingdom with the Musi river, and even the Pajajaran kingdom could not be separated from the existence of the Ciliwung river.

"Because the river is the lifeblood of mankind. Whoever can guard the river and the flow of water, then he can take care of the lives of his children and grandchildren next. Even in the science of fiqh, the first Islamic sharia discussed is the thaharoh chapter. What do you want ablutions to use if the water is dirty? Therefore guard the river. The simplest way is not to pollute it, especially from plastic waste," he said.

WWF Indonesia activist Saipul Siagian said, Plastic Smart Cities is a global movement initiated by WWF. The movement was made because plastic waste is a thorny problem that also disturbs wildlife habitats, especially in the sea.

"PSC is a jointly worked-out program for cities that are really smart in managing waste management. Bogor was the first city in Indonesia to declare a PSC. The hope is that waste management will be formed that is accurate, effective and can be done together," he said.

The motor of the movement, according to him, is of course the Government. But to make the movement that targets to drastically reduce plastic waste into landfills, of course, requires cooperation from various parties. One of them, from the students. This is also the basis for the educational event to be held at the Daarul Uluum Islamic Boarding School.

"Initially, our activities were more to save animals that were included in the endangered category. But we see the changing times, that the damage to the ecosystem is also influenced by many factors. One of them is plastic waste. Many studies say there is a buildup of plastic waste in the ocean and forms a plastic island. It eventually became WWF's idea to be able to save animals and human life by managing waste in their respective cities. There are about 15 cities that have already joined us. Hopefully there will be other cities that are doing the same," he concluded.***