Universitas Indonesia (UI), together with 45 other universities in Indonesia that care about environmental sustainability, yesterday (Saturday, August 17, 2024) coinciding with the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, carried out a joint action that made UI GreenMetric recorded in the MURI Record for “Penuangan Cairan Eco Enzyme oleh Perguruan Tinggi Terbanyak di Indonesia” (The Most Eco Enzyme Liquid Pouring by Universities in Indonesia). This award was given by the Deputy Director of the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI), Osmar Semesta Susilo, to the Acting Head of UI GreenMetric, Dr. Junaidi, S.S., M.A, at the Eco Enzyme Festival which took place on Saturday, August 17, in the Floating Room of the UI Central Library.
University Secretary of UI, dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D, said that the Eco Enzyme Festival is one of UI GreenMetric’s innovations in an effort to maintain environmental sustainability. “This year is the third year of the Eco Enzyme Festival with the largest number of participants, namely 46 universities. This is an effort to encourage concern and direct participation from universities on environmental issues. Hopefully, activities like this will build character and understanding of students, lecturers, and the community around campus,” she said.
The Eco Enzyme Festival is an activity of pouring eco enzyme liquid or waste enzyme into lakes or rivers in the campus area. This year, 20,928 liters of eco enzymes were collected from 46 universities which were poured into water areas—such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and so on—on their respective campuses. UI produced 1,764 liters of eco enzyme produced by all faculties, schools, and vocationals, as well as donations from the Upakara Bioenzim Indonesia Foundation. This liquid is made from fresh fruit and vegetable peel waste, such as squeezed orange peel, melon peel, and apple waste from juice and food vendors in the UI Campus canteen.
Dr. Junaidi said that the eco enzyme produced is poured as a water filter into six CAMPUS lakes at UI, namely Kenanga, Aghatis, Mahoni, Puspa, Ulin, and Salam. This eco enzyme is expected to improve the quality of water bodies in the Ul area to encourage ecosystem sustainability. This is because the six UI lakes play a role in preserving biodiversity, providing clean water supplies, and water absorption.
“The existence of this lake supports the environmental carrying capacity of the Depok area which can reduce the impact of flooding during the rainy season and provide water supply during drought, as well as contribute to regulating microclimate conditions in Depok City. Therefore, the water quality in the UI lake needs to be maintained,” said Dr. Junaidi.
In addition to being a water filter, the eco enzyme is also used as a substitute for carbolic acid, disinfectant, and natural pesticide for fruit plants. This is done to reduce the release of chemicals contained in soap and toxic waste that damages water quality around the campus. This effort is in accordance with point 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to the preservation of water, marine, and marine resource ecosystems.
The other 45 universities that participated in this effort were Universitas Syiah Kuala, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Universitas Lampung, Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya, Universitas Esa Unggul, Universitas Kuningan, Universitas Wahid Hasyim, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Wiraraja, Universitas Pattimura, Universitas Teuku Umar, Politeknik Teknologi Kimia Industri, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, Universitas Andalas, Universitas Negeri Padang, Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah Palembang, Universitas Bengkulu, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Widyatama, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Universitas Winaya Mukti, Universitas Budi Luhur, Universitas Trisakti, Universitas Mitra Bangsa, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara, Universitas Diponegoro, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang, Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Brawijaya, UIN Mataram, Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis STIKOM Bali, serta Universitas Kristen Indonesia Tomohon.
The Eco Enzyme Festival was also attended by UI Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, drg. Nurtami Soedarsono, Ph.d., Sp.OF(k); Director of Operations and Maintenance of Facilities of UI, Dr. Dwi Marta Nurjaya, S.T., M.T.; General Chair of ILUNI UI, Didit Ratam; Head of Public Relations and Public Information Disclosure Bureau of UI, Amelita Lusia; Senior Manager of MURI, Awan Rahargo; as well as vice deans and directors in UI.
