The dairy industry in Indonesia is growing, marked by the increase in processed milk-based products on the market. This has caused many milk producers to continue to increase production and build new factories in Indonesia. One of them is PT So Good Food Indonesia, which has developed Real Good Milk since 2013 in Boyolali Regency by collaborating with the Indonesian Milk Cooperative Association (GKSI) in the Central Java region to ensure the availability of fresh milk. This product diversification is one of the strategies to increase the added value of the company, but on the other hand it creates new homework related to the management of the waste produced.
Thursday (8/4) PT So Good Food had a visit to PIAT UGM. The visit was in the context of exploring cooperation in processing sludge waste produced by factory operations in Boyolali. It is confirmed that the sludge waste generated around 12-24 tons each month which comes not only from milk processing but also nuggets making because it is still in the same wastewater treatment plant (IPAL).
“We came to PIAT UGM to ask for help to conduct a characterization test of our sludge waste, because we received information that PIAT can process it into fertilizer,” said Yudi Wijaya as HRD of PT So Good Food, Boyolali when starting the discussion.
Dairy industry liquid waste has unique characteristics, this waste is more susceptible to decomposing bacteria, hence it must be treated immediately to prevent decomposition that could endanger the environment. PIAT UGM previously had a collaboration with PT. Sarihusada in sludge waste management where the waste is used as a mixture in compost making process.
“We use compost with a mixture of sludge on agricultural land, and it has also been sold regularly”, said Chandra Wahyu Purnomo, S.T., M.Eng., D.Eng, secretary of PIAT UGM who met a visit from PT So Good Food. Furthermore, Chandra also invited PT So Good Food Indonesia to send sludge samples for further analysis at PIAT UGM.
“The sludge sample will be tested simply to determine the levels of N, P, K, this test determines whether the sludge waste is good or not as a fertilizer mixture,” Chandra said when closing the discussion session.
The discussion on the 2nd floor of the PIAT UGM main office was continued with a visit to the Recycling Innovation House (RINDU) to see the process of making compost with a sludge mixture that has been working at PIAT since last year.