From Plastic Bottles to Hope: How an Engineering Student Turned Waste into a Community Solution

By Satrio Soesanto Gunawan, Mechanical Engineering Student at the University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya

There is one sight that I encounter almost everywhere: discarded plastic bottles piling up in trash bins, drainage channels, and even vacant land. For many people, they are simply waste. But as a Mechanical Engineering student, those piles of plastic bottles raise a simple question:

Why does a material that still has economic value end up becoming an environmental problem?

That question stayed with me throughout my community service activities. I soon realized that one of the biggest challenges in plastic waste management is not only public awareness but also the lack of practical tools and supporting facilities.

Plastic bottles occupy a large amount of space, making them difficult to store and transport efficiently. As a result, many used bottles are simply discarded because collecting them becomes inconvenient.

That is where this simple idea began.

Students from Community Service Group NR 7 stand proudly next to the trash bins and manual bottle crushers they built as part of a community empowerment project

Solutions Do Not Always Need to Be Complex

As a Mechanical Engineering student, I am trained to approach problems through engineering perspectives. Not every solution has to be expensive, sophisticated, or dependent on advanced technology.

Sometimes, the best solution is the one that people can actually use.

Together with a community service team, I developed a manual plastic bottle pressing machine designed to significantly reduce the volume of used plastic bottles. The tool is simple to operate, requires no electricity, and can be used by various community groups.

The concept is straightforward.

Plastic bottles that once occupied large storage spaces can be compressed into much smaller sizes. This makes storage more efficient, reduces transportation costs, and increases their economic value by making them easier to collect and recycle.

However, we quickly realized that a pressing machine alone was not enough.

Building Better Habits Through Infrastructure

Many waste management programs fail not because people do not care, but because supporting facilities are unavailable.

For this reason, in addition to developing the manual bottle press, we also designed and built an inorganic waste bin specifically intended for storing compressed plastic bottles.

Its purpose extends beyond simple storage.

We wanted to create a practical system that encourages communities to separate waste from the beginning. When a clear and accessible facility is available, people are more likely to dispose of waste properly.

Behavioral change often starts with small interventions like this.

Not through massive campaigns, but through making the right action easier to perform.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Throughout my studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, I have learned about machine design, manufacturing processes, materials, and engineering principles.

Yet community service has taught me something equally important.

I learned that the success of a technology is not measured by its complexity, but by the benefits it creates for society.

I also realized that students are not only responsible for mastering theories and technical knowledge. We have a responsibility to contribute practical solutions to the challenges faced by our communities.

Seeing people use the tools we developed reminded me that knowledge reaches its highest value when it creates tangible impact.

The Future of Waste Management Is in Our Hands

Plastic waste will not disappear because of a single machine or one community service program.

But every small step matters.

A single plastic bottle compressed today may seem insignificant. Yet when hundreds of people do the same, thousands of bottles can be diverted from the environment and returned to the recycling chain.

I believe that waste management is not solely the responsibility of governments or industries. It is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration among universities, communities, and various stakeholders.

Through the development of a manual plastic bottle press and an inorganic waste collection bin, I hope more people will begin to see waste not only as a problem but also as an opportunity to build a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Because in the end, the best innovation is not the most complicated one.

It is the one that creates real change in everyday life.

This article is a community service output by Group NR 7, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, conducted in Kelurahan Kertajaya 1, Kecamatan Gubeng, Surabaya, under the supervision of Field Supervisor Lecturer Ir. Hery Murnawan, ST., MT., CSCA