Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Tlogowero melalui Pemanfaatan Limbah Ampas Kopi menjadi Lilin Aromaterapi Empowering Tlogowero Village Communities by Transforming Coffee Waste into Aromatherapy Candles

Abstract

The massive increase in coffee consumption has led to the accumulation of spent coffee grounds that are not yet optimally utilized, particularly in coffee-producing areas such as Temanggung Regency. This community service program aims to empower women in the PKK group in Tlogowero Village through training in processing coffee waste into economically valuable aromatherapy candles. The novelty of this program lies in the integration of three key aspects: the use of local waste, the creation of marketable aromatherapy products, and the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, which emphasizes existing community strengths. The implementation method includes local asset identification, program design, participatory training based on a learning-by-doing approach, and evaluation using structured questionnaires distributed to 20 participants. The evaluation results indicate that 85% of participants showed improved understanding of waste management, 80% acquired technical skills in candle-making, 70% became aware of the economic potential of waste, and 65% expressed interest in developing small-scale businesses. From an economic perspective, the per-unit profit margin ranges from 131% to 208%, with the potential to generate an additional IDR 425,000–675,000 per household per month. This program contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 5, 8, and 12. Further assistance and the establishment of micro-cooperatives are recommended to ensure the program's sustainability.