Empowering communities through the sustainable transformation of used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles: A holistic approach to waste management

Cooking oil is a basic requirement in food processing, but repeated use can result in oil damage and environmental pollution. Processing used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles is an alternative to reduce this negative impact. Aromatherapy candles have economic value and have the potential to be a source of additional income. This program aims to empower members of PKK in Glagahwaru Village to utilize the potential of used cooking oil waste and improve their welfare. The training was carried out through KKN activities involving the members of KKN in Glagahwaru and also the members of PKK in Glagahwaru. The implementation stages included observation, education, and training in making aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil. The research results show that aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil waste have economic potential and are environmentally friendly. This program is able to increase public awareness of the repeated use of cooking oil and reduce environmental pollution due to used cooking oil waste. Apart from that, the business opportunity of producing and selling aromatherapy candles is also an alternative income for PKK members in Glagahwaru village.

Used cooking oil is leftover oil from frying which is usually produced from household cooking activities. Used cooking oil is one of the waste raw materials that is growing rapidly in the household environment and has a negative impact on body health and the environment. Efforts to use used cooking oil are useful for minimizing used cooking oil waste and reducing environmental pollution. The aim of this service activity is to reduce environmental pollution due to waste from used cooking oil or used cooking oil by processing it into aromatherapy candles. The used cooking oil waste was then developed to be made into aromatherapy candles. The method used is socialization, training and direct practice to increase participants' abilities and creativity. It is hoped that from the training that has been carried out, the participants will have knowledge and insight in processing used cooking oil and at the same time can become a creative and innovative business idea.

Used cooking oil is an oil that has been used repeatedly. This used cooking oil waste is harmful to health and is one of the sources of environmental pollution. The partners of this activity are students of SMAN 1 Pracimantoro Wonogiri. The purpose of this community service activity is to provide knowledge and understanding of the impact of the use and disposal of used cooking oil, provide information and knowledge about products that can be produced from used cooking oil waste, namely aroma therapy candles, and improve soft skills by making aroma therapy candles. The methods used are counseling and training. The form of activities is in the form of counseling and training. The methods used are lectures, demonstrations and exercises. Participants first listened to the material delivered by the community service team, then were trained to make aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil waste. The response of the participants to this activity was positive, this was shown by the enthusiasm of the participants in the discussion during the counseling. The result of the activity was an increase in knowledge about the dangers of using used cooking oil, environmental pollution, and skills in making products from used cooking oil waste management in the form of aromatherapy candles by 12.2%

This program aims to introduce an efficient way to manage cooking oil waste in Karangmulya Village through interviews, observations, training, and hands-on practice to housewives. The subjects of this program are housewives of Karangmulya Village who will manage the cooking oil waste by producing aromatherapy candle products. The main objective is to optimize the management of cooking oil waste and produce quality products. This program takes the main raw material of cooking oil available in every home, with the aim of introducing innovative ways to turn it into value-added aromatherapy candles. The implementation method applies socialization and hands-on training in making aromatherapy candles. The results of the service are a better understanding of the right and effective way to utilize cooking oil waste for making aromatherapy candles, so that the participants of the activity can turn household waste into a potential source in creating value-added products and reducing the impact of environmental pollution.

Waste cooking oil or waste cooking oil (WCO) is the remaining oil (or by-products) produced during food frying. In 2019, the cooking oil consumption in Bali Province was 4,735,057 L/month and the WCO produced was estimated about 3,314,540 L/month. The Government of Bali plans to manage WCO in an integrated manner WCO in an integrated manner by processing it as derivative products with economic value. The study aimed to transform WCO into high-value added products (i.e. aromatherapy candles, liquid soap, and biodiesel), and to analyze their economy valued added. The Hayami method was used to determine the economyvalue added of each product. The results showed that WCO was most widely used in producing biodiesel (84%), candle (17%), and liquid soap (10%). Based on the Hayami method, the added value from candle products was IDR. 4,838 / kg (or added value ratio of 9.68%), was classified as a low added product. The added value of liquid soap was IDR 8,495/kg (or added value ratio of 47.38%), classified as a high added value product. While, biodiesel products generating the added value of IDR 2,363/kg (or added value ratio of 25.57%), classified as a medium added value product.

This community service aims to educate partners to increase the economic value of used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles so that it leads to a productive economy. Assistance to people who have used a lot of cooking oil in their cooking process plays a strong role in building human resources and quality Indonesian products towards Advanced Indonesia. The priority of partner issues is that there are no products that are produced and become selling points that can lift the partner's economy, due to the lack of knowledge about making aromatherapy candles, especially those that use waste materials. The implementation method in this service is Community Based Research, which is a design that takes place in a community environment and involves community members in the design and implementation of research projects, shows respect for the successful contributions made by community partners, and respects the "no harm" principle for the communities involved. . So that this activity makes: first, improving skills in making products made from used cooking oil waste which becomes aromatherphy candles. Second, increasing awareness of maintaining environmental cleanliness and health and the dangers of disposing of used cooking oil waste carelessly. Third, improving the household economy by selling aromatherapy candles made from used cooking oil waste.
 Keywords: Education; Waste Cooking Oil, Aromatherapy Candle

Household waste, especially used cooking oil, has a negative impact on the environment and health if not managed properly. Used cooking oil is often disposed of carelessly, causing soil, water, and air pollution. To overcome this problem, a program is implemented with the aim of reducing used cooking oil waste and creating student awareness about waste management. This program utilizes used cooking oil into aromatherapy candles that are useful and have a selling value. The socialization and practice of making aromatherapy candles was carried out by students in grades 4 and 5 of SDN 41 Ampenan, accompanied by Teaching Assistance Students. This activity involves group division, material collection, and the process of making candles from used cooking oil with additional natural aromas such as pandan leaves, oranges, jasmine tea, coffee, and lemongrass. The practice of making aromatherapy candles takes place from May 22 to May 29, 2024. The results of this activity show that aromatherapy candles made have health benefits and can reduce B3 waste in households. Students also gain knowledge about the negative effects of used cooking oil if used continuously and the importance of recycling. This practice has succeeded in improving students' skills and creativity in managing waste and providing potential entrepreneurial ideas. So, this activity not only succeeded in reducing used cooking oil waste but also increased students' awareness of the importance of preserving the environment from an early age.

<em>The use of cooking oil in daily life continues to increase over time. The large use of cooking oil causes an abundance of used cooking oil (cooking oil waste) and will have negative impacts if it is not processed properly. In fact, the facts on the ground show that used cooking oil has not been widely used by the community in several areas, including the community in Punggawan Village. Based on this problem, one of the 2023 UNS KKN teams conducted a workshop on making aromatherapy candles. The aim of this workshop activity is to utilize used cooking oil waste into useful products in the Punggawan Village community. The methods used are socialization and direct practice. This activity is divided into three stages, namely: (1) planning and preparation; (2) implementation of activities; and (3) program follow-up. This planning and preparation stage requires coordination with the PKK as well as preparing the tools and materials that will be used. The activity consists of presenting material and direct practice in making aromatherapy candles. The follow-up stage of this program is that the community is able to reduce and utilize used cooking oil waste. This workshop activity was attended by 30 participants who came from PKK members in Punggawan Village, Banjarsari District, Surakarta City. The results of this activity show that there is positive feedback from participants who participated actively during the workshop. This activity is expected to provide knowledge and experience for PKK members so they can utilize used cooking oil waste to process it into products that are useful and have sales value.</em>

Sukaratu Village, Cikeusal has rapid population growth and culinary business development because there is the Serang Panimbang Section 1 toll gate which is an economic magnet. This has a positive impact on the community, but also has a negative impact on the environment. The negative impact of this culinary business is the high volume of used cooking oil (cooking) waste. This happens because people throw used cooking oil away. Waste cooking oil if not managed properly will make the environment dirty and can pollute water and soil. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to innovate in the management of used cooking oil by involving the community so that the waste can be used as a product of economic value. One of the potential waste cooking oil is the high content of fatty acids so that it can be used as an environmentally friendly dish soap. Therefore, community service activities were carried out to increase the added value of used cooking oil by processing it into dish soap. Skills training for processing used cooking oil into dish soap has been carried out for the community in Sukaratu Village, Cikeusal and provides benefits: 1) The community knows the negative impact of used cooking oil on health and the environment, 2) The community knows and is skilled at applying appropriate technology for processing used cooking oil into dish soap, 3) People know the economic potential of used cooking oil waste, 4) Encourage community empowerment.

This community service project conducted by the lecturers and students of STIE NU Trate Gresik in Morobakung Village, Manyar District, Gresik Regency, aimed to empower the local women’s group (PKK) through the utilization of used cooking oil as the raw material for producing aromatherapy candles. The project was initiated due to the lack of awareness and skills among the PKK members in managing used cooking oil, which is often disposed of improperly, causing environmental pollution and health risks. The community service activities were carried out in several strategic stages, including initial awareness-raising sessions, forum group discussions (FGDs), practical demonstrations of candle-making, and packaging design training using the Canva application. The novelty of this program lies in transforming used cooking oil into eco-friendly, high-value aromatherapy candles that align with modern lifestyle trends. After the program's implementation, the PKK members acquired the necessary skills to produce high-quality aromatherapy candles and create appealing packaging designs, which helped them to launch sustainable small-scale businesses. This project also contributed to raising environmental awareness and reducing the negative impact of waste oil on the environment. The results indicated significant improvements in the PKK members' environmental awareness and technical skills, particularly in producing, marketing, and packaging candles. The program has created new business opportunities, improved local economic conditions, and fostered sustainable environmental practices in the community. This community service initiative demonstrates a practical solution to environmental issues while empowering local women to enhance their economic independence.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) stated that domestic cooking oil consumption increased by 2.32% per year in the household sector from 2015 to 2020. According to a survey, 95% (n=20) of residents of RW 02, Pancoran Village, South Jakarta are one of the producers of used cooking oil from kitchen activities and 70% do not know how to process used cooking oil into useful products. Used cooking oil that is not managed properly can pollute the environment and is harmful to health if consumed repeatedly. On the other hand, used cooking oil has great potential benefits in various sectors. The purpose of this community service activity is to provide education and training to residents about the management of used cooking oil and how to process used cooking oil waste into useful derivative products containing ecoenzyme. The method used is by distributing questionnaires, education and training in making aromatherapy candles and liquid soap containing ecoenzyme. The indicator of activity achievement is that participants have independently produced aromatherapy candles for a bazaar with better quality. The results of the questionnaire after the training stated that all training participants (100%, n = 14) had understood how to manage used cooking oil properly, had understood how to make used cooking oil derivative products and were interested in making it a business.

This Community Service aims to increase the community's knowledge and skills in utilizing used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles. The activity was carried out in the form of a workshop by providing complete instructions, outreach, and practices for processing kitchen waste in the form of used cooking oil into products of economic value for housewives in Terentang III Village, Koba District, Central Bangka Regency. The results of the program succeeded in increasing the knowledge and skills of housewives in utilizing used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles.

Waste cooking oil is a waste product that is often not utilized optimally by the community and can pollute the environment if not managed properly. On the other hand, students at the Ibnu Hajar Community Learning Center (PKBM) and the PKK group in Sirahan Village, Magelang Regency, need to develop their entrepreneurial skills to support local economic growth. This community service project aims to provide training to both partner groups on utilizing waste cooking oil as a primary material for making aromatherapy candles. The methods employed in this activity include education and hands-on training. The results of the community service program showed that this program had a positive impact on the partner groups, namely the students of PKBM Ibnu Hajar and the PKK group in Sirahan Village. Training participants not only learned how to produce aromatherapy candles from waste cooking oil, but also gained new skills with the potential to enhance the local economy through environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship.

Environmental damage is often found to be a global issue today. One of the causes of ecological problems is the use of cooking oil. Used cooking oil is oil that is repeatedly used and no longer used. The negative impact if used cooking oil is thrown directly into the environment without processing it first is very large, such as environmental pollution, thereby damaging the aquatic ecosystem. However, public awareness about managing this waste still needs to be improved. This community service activity aims to increase public knowledge of the impact of using and disposing of used cooking oil on body health and the environment and provide education regarding making aromatherapy candles using used cooking oil waste. This community service activity was carried out on August 1, 2023, at Karanganyar Village Hall, Bantarbolang District, Pemalang Regency. PKK women attended this activity in 6 hamlets in Karanganyar Village. Educational activities include presenting material to service providers and practicing making aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil. As a result of this service, all participants understand the negative impacts of used cooking oil that need to be avoided and how to process used cooking oil into aromatherapy candles. Some participants were even interested in making the product an independent business.

The increase in used cooking oil refuse contributes to environmental degradation. A lack of public comprehension and cognizance of waste management also contributes to this. If these actions persist, the water quality will deteriorate, and natural disasters may occur. Every resident of the village of Russia, which encompasses 12,00 km2, generates used cooking oil refuse. As part of the Serumpun Melayu Real Work Lecture (KKN) service activities, used cooking oil is recycled into aromatherapy candles in order to prevent impacts that will harm people's health as well as pollution of ecotourism spots around Rusaba village and to raise awareness about waste processing. On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the service activity occurred in the Rusaba village community hall, Punduh Pedada subdistrict, Peshawar district. Service activities are carried out using socialization and training methods, including conducting surveys and observations, preparing for socialization by coordinating with the village, carrying out socialization activities with material presented through presentations and direct practice, and evaluating activities through questions and responses. Participants considering the socialization activities carried out The implementation of socialization activities for creating aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil waste has proven effective and can be used to increase the number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned by homemakers.