Students of the University of Nurtanio change used cooking oil waste into environmentally friendly aromatherapy candles

West Bandung, Controversinews | Environmentally friendly innovation was re -initiated by students of the Nurtanio University Mandiri Mandiri Real Work Lecture (KKNMT). Through the theme activities “Utilization of used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles”Students educate residents of Jambudipa Village, Cisarua District, West Bandung Regency, about how to process household waste into economic value products.

The activity carried out at the RW 16 Office of Jambudipa Village was attended by 18 participants from among the local residents. Through the method of exposing theory, discussion, to direct practice, people are taught how to process used used cooking oil into safe and fragrant aromatherapy candles.

Head of KKNMT 03 Group Nurtanio University Bandung explained that this activity was aimed at increasing public awareness of the dangers of the disposal of used cooking oil.

“Cooking oils that are discarded can just clog water channels and pollute the environment. By being reprocessed, this waste can actually be a new source of income,” he said.

In training, residents are invited to make aromatherapy candles starting from the immersion of used cooking oil with charcoal for 24 hours, mixing with wax, stearic acid, crayons as dyes, and essential oils (essential oil), to the process of printing wax into a container with axis in the middle. The end result is an aromatherapy candle that not only functions as a air freshener, but also has a selling value.

Residents of RW 16 seemed enthusiastic to follow each stage of the activity. One of the participants revealed that this activity opened a new insight on how to manage household waste.

“So far we just throw away fried oil, even though it could be useful items like this candle. Hopefully, activities like this can be routinely carried out,” he said.

In addition to providing technical training, the KKNMT team also evaluates product packaging and the potential marketing of aromatherapy candles so that it can be further developed into village superior products.

This activity is also a concrete manifestation of the application of the concept of circular economy, where waste is converted into a value value. With this innovation, people not only learn to manage waste wisely, but also get new economic opportunities that are in line with the principle of sustainable development. (Tita)