Synergy between Djarum Foundation and the Kudus Government, Enhancing Organic Waste Sorting Education thru Dandangan 2026

The Kudus Dandangan Festival 2026 is being held again as part of the cultural tradition that has been rooted since the era of Sunan Kudus in welcoming the holy month of Ramadan. In addition to being a space for cultural preservation, Dandangan continues to develop as a driver of the local economy, involving MSME actors and attracting tens of thousands of visitors each day.

The enthusiasm of the community toward the Dandangan Festival continues to show a positive trend. In 2025, the number of visitors was recorded at around 38,000 people per day, a significant increase compared to the previous year, which was around 16,000 visitors per day. The high mobility of visitors also brings its own challenges, especially regarding the potential increase in waste volume from consumption activities during the event.

If not managed optimally, the surge in waste generation is at risk of causing environmental impacts and reducing visitor comfort. This condition also has the potential to increase the national waste contribution from Kudus Regency, which in 2024 is recorded to reach around 0.45 percent. This situation underscores the importance of implementing an integrated and sustainable waste management system, especially for large-scale events like the Dandangan Festival.

In response to the challenge, the Kudus Regency Government is strengthening cross-sector collaboration by involving relevant agencies, the private sector, and local communities to ensure that the Dandangan 2026 event is orderly, safe, and environmentally friendly.

The Deputy Regent of Kudus, Bellinda Putri Sabrina Birton, emphasized that collaboration is key in presenting a festival that is not only culturally vibrant but also environmentally responsible. According to her, the involvement of various stakeholders, including the Djarum Foundation, is part of the effort to build collective awareness among the community about the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of public spaces.

"Dandangan not only serves as a space for celebrating traditions but also plays an important role in driving and strengthening the local economy." This festival also serves as a tangible manifestation of the government's commitment to improving the welfare of the community. To enliven and succeed this event, let us together maintain environmental cleanliness by sorting waste, disposing of waste in the designated places, and creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere for everyone. We would like to thank all parties who have contributed, including the Djarum Foundation for their support in providing waste management facilities to maintain the cleanliness of the Dandangan area," said Kudus Deputy Regent Bellinda Putri Sabrina Birton.

As part of the collaboration, the Djarum Foundation's Environmental Service (BLDF) became one of the actively involved parties. This support is realized thru the provision of 60 trash bins divided into 3 categories: organic, inorganic, and residual, placed at strategic points in the Dandangan event area.

Director – Communications Djarum Foundation Mutiara Diah Asmara said that thru the Dandangan Festival 2026, the Djarum Foundation's Environmental Service aims to bring forth a simple yet meaningful spirit, where the preservation of tradition and environmental care can go hand in hand.

"When the environment is kept clean, MSMEs can operate more comfortably, and visitors will enjoy the atmosphere," said Mutiara.

Bakti Lingkungan Djarum Foundation, established in 2022, initiated the Kudus ASIK (Kudus Apik Resik) movement, which has since formed partnerships with more than 490 collaborators, including restaurants, public service places, companies, hotels, markets, and residents of Kudus Regency who are committed to sorting their organic waste.

Next, the organic waste is transported and processed into organic fertilizer at the Organic Processing Center (PPO) facility with a capacity of 50 tons per day.

In line with this, BLDF also utilizes social media-based channels to spread educational messages about waste sorting targeting the community of Kudus Regency thru the Instagram and Facebook account @kudus.asik. This aligns with the government's efforts toward zero waste, zero emission (ZWZE) 2040, which is a continuation of the target set by the Kudus Regency Government.

"In addition to providing trash bins, the Djarum Foundation also involves 20 students from UIN and UMK who are part of the Kudus ASIK movement to educate visitors on sorting their waste and maintaining the cleanliness of the event area," said Mutiara.

Furthermore, Mutiara revealed that this group of students acts as cleanliness ambassadors who are at the forefront of raising visitor awareness, particularly in providing understanding about sorting and disposing of waste according to its category.

Thru this cross-sector synergy, the Djarum Foundation and the Kudus Regency Government hope that the Dandangan Festival will not only be a proud celebration of tradition but also a shared learning space in building sustainable environmental awareness.