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Plastic waste management in rural areas, particularly in tourism villages, remains an environmental challenge that requires sustainable solutions. Negeri Tongging Village, as a tourism area around Lake Toba, has experienced an increase in household plastic waste that has not been managed optimally, potentially affecting environmental quality and community well-being. This community service activity aimed to enhance community awareness and capacity in plastic waste management through the implementation of a circular economy approach based on a waste exchange program and ecobrick production. A participatory approach was employed by actively involving the community in all stages of the activity, including socialization, program implementation, and evaluation. The program was carried out during the 2025 Community Service Program of Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, consisting of circular economy socialization, collection of plastic waste through an exchange scheme with basic necessities, training on ecobrick production, and the provision of supporting facilities for environmental cleanliness. The results indicate an increase in community participation and environmental awareness, a reduction in improperly disposed plastic waste, and an improvement in community skills in processing plastic waste into useful products. In addition, the activity strengthened mutual cooperation and environmental responsibility among community members. In conclusion, the application of a circular economy approach through ecobrick-based activities can serve as an effective alternative solution for plastic waste management while simultaneously supporting sustainable community empowerment in rural tourism areas.

The digitalization of the creative economy has opened up significant opportunities for the community to create innovative products that have high sales value and are environmentally friendly. One interesting innovation is the use of used cooking oil as a raw material for making aromatherapy candles. Used cooking oil, which is usually discarded and pollutes the environment, can be reprocessed into products with economic value, thus supporting the principles of a circular economy. This study aims to examine the potential of processing used cooking oil into aromatherapy candles, analyze digital-based marketing strategies to increase product competitiveness in the market, and examine the meaning of transforming waste into innovative products from the perspective of Immanuel Kant's philosophy of reality. The research methods used were literature studies and field observations of used cooking oil processing practices by the community. The results show that used cooking oil-based aromatherapy candles have good business prospects, especially when combined with digital promotion through social media and marketplaces. Digitalization helps expand marketing reach, create brand identity, and attract consumers who care about environmental sustainability. From the perspective of Immanuel Kant's philosophy of reality, the transformation of used cooking oil into aromatherapy candles can be understood as a phenomenon, namely a reality that is visible in the practice of the digital creative economy. Meanwhile, the values ​​of sustainability, ethical awareness, and social meaning contained therein reflect noumena, namely the deepest reality that is not directly visible but provides direction and meaning for human actions.