TRENGGALEK – The Sangu Sampah environmental campaign took center stage in Trenggalek as students showcased their ideas in an essay and videography competition on Tuesday Feb 24. Jawa Pos Radar Trenggalek organized the event at the Environmental Agency hall. Moreover, it brought together junior high school students from across the regency.

Organizers selected ten finalists from about 70 applicants. Each finalist then presented their essay before judges and peers. As a result, the session allowed students to explain practical solutions for waste management and environmental awareness in schools.

Two judges evaluated the presentations. Mardianto Harahap, director of PT Jwalita Energi Trenggalek, joined Imam Maulani from the Environmental Agency waste management division. Furthermore, they assessed content relevance, writing quality, and presentation clarity.

Rafandy Pamel Giffary from SMPN 1 Karangan won first place with a score of 94. Meanwhile, Sevilla Najwa Kahira from SMPN 1 Munjungan ranked second with 89. Fariqa Yuki Citrawati from SMPN 1 Trenggalek placed third with 88. In addition, Meisha Nirmala Putri from SMPN 3 Dongko won the videography category.

Rafandy said the achievement marked his first essay competition. He also expressed pride and highlighted the urgent need for stronger waste management in Trenggalek. Notably, he pointed out that local waste processing remains low at around 16 percent. Therefore, he hopes similar competitions continue to build environmental awareness among students.

Imam Maulani described the competition as an effective way to support the Sangu Sampah program and the broader Net Zero Carbon agenda. He added that many schools still have not joined the initiative. Thus, he expects wider participation across the education sector.

Mardianto Harahap emphasized the importance of waste literacy through writing and public speaking. According to him, active participation from several districts shows strong commitment from students and teachers. He stressed that winning was only a bonus. Instead, schools should collaborate to optimize the Sangu Sampah program across Trenggalek.

Finally, the competition formed part of a broader partnership. Jawa Pos Radar Trenggalek organized it with support from PT Jwalita Energi Trenggalek, BPR Jwalita Trenggalek, Pos Indonesia Trenggalek, the Education Office, and the Environmental Agency. Together, they aim to cultivate long term environmental responsibility among young people.