DIGITAL SOCIAL INNOVATION FOR CIRCULAR WASTE COOKING OIL MANAGEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM AN INDONESIAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

The increasing volume of waste cooking oil (WCO) generated by households and small food businesses presents significant environmental challenges while simultaneously offering opportunities for circular economy implementation. However, community-based WCO collection initiatives in developing countries remain constrained by manual administration, fragmented data management, and limited public participation. This study aims to develop and implement the Jelantah Point web-based platform as a Digital Social Innovation to improve the management of community-based waste cooking oil collection. The research employed a combination of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Design Science Research (DSR), involving the Jejak Jelantah Community throughout the processes of problem identification, system design, prototype development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The resulting platform integrates digital deposit recording, an automated point-based incentive system, user contribution rankings, environmental education, and drop-point information into a single web-based application. The implementation demonstrates that the platform improves transparency, accuracy of collection records, accessibility of information, and operational efficiency while strengthening community participation through digital incentives and real-time monitoring. Furthermore, the integration of environmental education and contribution-based rewards encourages pro-environmental behavior and supports sustainable waste management practices. This study contributes to the growing literature on Digital Social Innovation by proposing an integrated webbased model that combines digital participation, incentive mechanisms, and community engagement to strengthen circular economy initiatives. The proposed model provides a scalable and replicable framework for sustainable community-based waste cooking oil management in developing countries.