Panennews.com- Piles of cassava peel waste in Ciambar Village, Ciambar District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, which once threatened soil fertility due to its high cyanide content, are now being processed into a commodity of economic value. As part of a series of long-term community service programs (2025–2030), University Trisakti ( Usakti ) community service team together with residents began implementing and developing the utilization of this waste into biobriquettes and maggot flour since 2025. Ciambar Village is a center for cassava production with vulnerability to price fluctuations and waste issues. Piles of rotting cassava peels produce leachate that risks damaging the soil ecosystem.

Responding to this issue, the Director of LPPM Usakti Prof. Dr. Ir. Astri Rinanti, MT, IPM., ASEAN Eng., explained that the processing technique is specifically designed to eliminate toxic substances to ensure safety for the food chain.

“This toxic cassava peel waste can be handled in several ways by making biobriquettes so that the toxic materials are eliminated,” he explained when met by panennews, at LPPM Usakti , Jakarta, Monday (28/9/2026). So the waste does not enter the food chain, does not enter animals, does not enter plants, does not enter humans. “Cassava peel waste is chopped, dried, charcoaled, floured, then mixed with adhesive, become briquettes,” he said. This processed product has a significant financial impact on the community. Regarding its selling price, Prof. Astri added, “Well, 1 kilo of briquettes costs around Rp. 40 to Rp. 50,000 so it provides economic value for residents,” he concluded.

In addition to biobriquettes, chopped and floured cassava peels are used as maggot feed. After some time, the maggots are dried and then ground into flour, producing high-quality flour. “This creates a circular economy from cassava peel waste, which was previously unused, into briquettes and economically valuable maggot flour,” he said. The sustainability of this program is supported by the “Briquette House” facility, independently managed by the Ciambar Village Youth Organization (Karang Taruna), and supported by the local government through the Pentahelix collaboration scheme.

Source quoted from: https://www.panennews.com/teknologi/1683065067/mengubah-ancaman-lindi-menjadi-berkah-Innovation-Community Service-University-trisakti-di-desa-ciambar