As part of efforts to increase public awareness of environmental issues while encouraging community creativity, students participating in the Community Service Program (KKN) of Universitas PGRI Semarang (UPGRIS) Group 28 in Kalicari Village organized a Bottle Cap Recycling Workshop with residents of RT 3 RW 4, Kalicari Village. The activity was held on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in the yard of Mr. Tri’s house, the Head of RT 3 RW 4, which was chosen as a strategic and easily accessible location for the surrounding community.
The workshop was attended by various members of the community, including PKK women of RT 3 RW 4, members of the Youth Organization (Karang Taruna), as well as local fathers and mothers. The involvement of different age groups and community elements became one of the strengths of the activity, as it created space for collaboration, togetherness, and the exchange of ideas among residents.
The training session was directly guided by UPGRIS KKN students, who had previously prepared the materials, tools, and equipment. To ensure the training ran effectively and that all participants could follow each stage properly, participants were divided into five groups, each consisting of 7–8 people. This grouping also aimed to foster teamwork, communication, and a sense of unity among participants.
During the workshop, participants were given an understanding of plastic waste management, particularly bottle caps, which are often considered worthless and end up as waste. Through this training, bottle caps were transformed into handicraft products such as keychains and brooches, which are not only visually appealing but also have potential economic value if developed sustainably.
The crafting process began by melting the plastic bottle caps using an iron. To ensure safety and achieve neater results, the caps were first covered with baking paper. After melting and fusing together, the material was shaped using cookie cutters in various attractive forms. The final stage involved trimming and refining the shapes with scissors, resulting in finished craft products ready for use or sale.
Throughout the activity, the workshop atmosphere was lively and full of enthusiasm. Participants actively followed instructions, engaged in group discussions, and did not hesitate to ask the KKN students questions when facing difficulties. The sense of joy was clearly visible when the crafts were successfully formed, and some participants immediately tried on the brooches and keychains they had made themselves.
Mr. Tri, Head of RT 3 RW 4 Kalicari Village, expressed high appreciation for the activity. He considered the bottle cap recycling workshop to be highly beneficial for residents, not only from an environmental perspective but also in terms of economic empowerment and community development.
“Activities like this are very positive and provide new skills for residents. In the future, I hope this training can be developed into one of the entrepreneurial products of the PKK women, so that it can add value and improve the welfare of the community,” he stated.
Through this workshop, the UPGRIS KKN students aimed to raise community awareness about the importance of managing plastic waste and to encourage residents to be wiser in utilizing household waste. In addition, the training was directed toward empowering the community, particularly PKK women and the Youth Organization, by equipping them with creative skills that can be developed into small-scale businesses based on recycled crafts.
More than just a skills training session, this workshop served as a means of environmental education and social empowerment, which is expected to create a shift in the community’s mindset—from viewing waste as a burden to seeing it as a valuable opportunity. With continuous support and development, this activity has the potential to become a best practice example that can be replicated in other areas.
Through the synergy between KKN students and the community, the Bottle Cap Recycling Workshop is expected to provide long-term benefits for Kalicari Village, both in preserving the environment and in enhancing residents’ creativity and economic independence.
