Bio-Briquettes: An Alternative Use for Spent Oyster Mushroom Growing Media (Baglogs) at the Serentak Regam Elok in Muaro Bulian

Abstract

Waste management is a crucial aspect of maintaining environmental sustainability and public health. As human activity increases across various sectors—including agriculture—the volume of waste generated continues to rise, posing a potential risk of soil, water, and air pollution if not properly managed. Therefore, effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly waste management is essential to minimize negative ecosystem impacts and support environmentally conscious development. The "Serentak Regam Elok" MSME group is an alliance of approximately 33 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise groups in Batanghari Regency. Their production activities are diverse, including the cultivation of white oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). This cultivation process generates waste in the form of spent growing media (known as baglog), typically composed of sawdust, rice bran, and lime. If mismanaged, this waste can accumulate and cause environmental problems. However, the spent white oyster mushroom media retains potential for reuse, specifically as a raw material for producing briquettes. This initiative aims to raise awareness regarding the management of spent white oyster mushroom media and to introduce appropriate technology for producing briquettes from this waste to the members of the Serentak Regam Elok MSME group. Methods: The activity employed Participatory Action Research (PAR) and "learning-by-doing" approaches. Awareness-raising sessions, demonstrations, the establishment of demonstration plots, and ongoing guidance were conducted to enhance the MSME members' knowledge, understanding, and skills regarding spent mushroom media management. Results: Briquettes were produced using spent mushroom media (baglog), tapioca flour, and water, resulting in a product that was deep black in color with good density and compactness. The production process involved drying the spent media, sieving, carbonization, adding the binding agent (tapioca) and water, molding, and final drying. Briquettes made from baglog waste serve as an eco-friendly fuel alternative; they can reduce methane emissions and possess high economic value.