Balikpapan - Used oil bottles that are often considered worthless waste can, in fact, be transformed into useful products. Through the REPLASTO Social Innovation Program, students of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK), together with the Sekolah Pantai Indonesia (SPI) Waste Bank in Balikpapan, are turning HDPE plastic waste into tables and coasters.

The program was carried out at the SPI Waste Bank, located at SMKN 5 Balikpapan in Lamaru Village, East Balikpapan District. It involved supervising lecturer Dr. Eng. Yunita Triana, students from various study programs, and the local community as partners in collecting and processing plastic waste.

One of the participating students, Marles Paelongan from the Chemical Engineering Study Program, Class of 2023, explained that the production process began with collecting used oil bottles, followed by sorting, cutting, washing, and shredding the plastic. The cleaned material was then melted using a hot-press method and molded into new, functional products.

According to Marles, his involvement in REPLASTO provided an opportunity to apply the knowledge he had gained in the classroom to a real environmental issue.

“I joined this program to apply what I have learned in class to address environmental problems, particularly plastic waste management. I also wanted to gain experience working in a multidisciplinary team, strengthen my awareness of the circular economy, and contribute to producing innovative products that benefit the community,” he said.

Beyond producing functional items, REPLASTO also promotes the importance of adopting a circular economy. Plastic waste does not simply end up as rubbish; instead, it is reprocessed into products that can be used again. This approach helps reduce plastic accumulation while creating opportunities for community-based, environmentally friendly products.

For the students, the program served as a learning platform beyond the classroom. They not only gained technical experience in material processing, but also developed teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills by working directly with community partners.

The products created through REPLASTO were also showcased at the 2026 ITK Social Innovation Expo. The exhibition demonstrated that environmental challenges can be addressed through collaboration between universities, students, and local communities.

Marles hopes that similar programs will continue to grow and create a wider impact.

“This activity gave me a valuable experience because I was directly involved in transforming waste into useful products. I hope social innovation programs such as REPLASTO can continue to be developed, benefit more communities, and inspire more people to adopt sustainable waste management practices,” he added.

Through REPLASTO, ITK shows that innovation does not always have to begin with complex technology. From discarded oil bottles, the program has created useful products, meaningful learning experiences, and a small movement with a tangible impact on the environment and society.