| dc.description.abstract | Waste management remains a significant challenge in the community, including the low level of active participation and limited understanding of the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) principles among bank sampah customers. A waste bank serves as a strategy to implement the 3R approach in household waste management. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of customers, management of the waste bank, household-level 3R practices, perceived benefits of the program, and the level of customer participation at Puri Zahara 2 Waste Bank, located in Simpang Selayang, Medan. This descriptive study involved 55 customers selected from a total population of 120 customers using simple random sampling. Primary data were collected through direct observation and interviews using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS 26.0 for quantitative data and narrative description for qualitative data. Crosstabulation was used to present the frequency and percentage distributions between customer characteristics and participation levels. The results showed that 70,9% of customers were female, 58,2% were middle-aged adults (41–60 years), 90,9% had higher education, 38,2% were housewives, and 60% had been customers for 5–6 years. The management of Puri Zahara 2 Waste Bank aligns with the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 14 of 2021, though challenges remain in human resources, facilities, and service schedules. A total of 52,7% of customers demonstrated a low level of 3R practice; however, the program's perceived benefits were high 74,5%, and member participation was also high 72,7%. It is concluded that the waste bank is managed in accordance with regulations, with high levels of customer participation and perceived benefits, although 3R implementation still requires improvement. It is recommended that the Medan City Environmental Agency continue to support the waste bank’s operations, managers and staffs maintain member engagement, and customers enhance consistency in waste sorting. | en_US |
