<![CDATA[The implementation of circular economy principles has become an effective strategy to address environmental degradation while simultaneously improving community welfare through sustainable resource utilization. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated community empowerment model combining technological innovation, institutional strengthening, and downstream agricultural processing in Gedog Village, Blitar City, Indonesia. The research employed a participatory action research approach involving two community partners, namely Bank Sampah Gong Lestari and Pokmas Mandiri Hidrofarm. Appropriate technologies introduced included hydraulic plastic pressing equipment, plastic shredders, stainless-steel citronella distillation units, and product diversification into aromatherapy candles and diffuser perfumes. The intervention increased recycled plastic production from approximately 750 kg to 1,000 kg month⁻¹, while improving the selling price from IDR 3,000 kg⁻¹ to IDR 6,000 kg⁻¹. Citronella cultivation expanded to approximately 3,000 m², accompanied by increased production of value-added products and improved institutional performance. Community participation increased from 70% to 90%, operational contribution rose from 30% to 70%, and participants' technical knowledge improved from 30% to 60%. These findings demonstrate that integrating technological innovation with participatory empowerment effectively supports circular economy implementation, strengthens local economic resilience, enhances environmental sustainability, and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Green Economy, and Indonesia Emas 2045. Keywords: circular economy; community empowerment; plastic recycling; citronella; technological innovation]]>
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