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Abstract Oil spills represent one of the most persistent threats to marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and global sustainability. Conventional remediation strategies, such as chemical dispersants and mechanical recovery, are costly, environmentally hazardous, and often inaccessible to developing nations. This study investigates the cultivation of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria using organic household waste substrates and evaluates their effectiveness in oil spill bioremediation. Organic waste materials including fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and food leftovers were processed to serve as nutrient-rich media for microbial growth. Selected bacterial strains (Bacillus spp., Alcanivorax) were inoculated, incubated under controlled conditions, and harvested for application in simulated oil spill environments. Growth kinetics, nutrient availability, and temperature effects were analyzed, with results demonstrating optimal bacterial proliferation at 35–40°C and nutrient saturation at 6–7 kg of waste substrate. Oil degradation tests revealed that bacterial concentrations of 9 × 102 cells/mL achieved up to 95% hydrocarbon reduction within 14 days. Findings confirm that household waste-derived bacteria represent a low-cost, sustainable, and community-driven alternative to conventional remediation strategies. This approach integrates waste valorization with environmental recovery, aligning with circular economy principles, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Blue Economy framework. It further complements international climate commitments under COP conferences, offering scalable potential for national oil spill contingency plans. Oil spills not only disrupt marine ecosystems but also impose long term socioeconomic costs on fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods. The novelty of this study lies in demonstrating that household waste, often discarded without value, can be transformed into microbial agents for hydrocarbon degradation. This dual benefit—waste reduction and pollution control—embodies circular economy principles. The findings contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12 and SDG 14) and reinforce commitments made during COP28 and COP29 to strengthen community driven climate resilience.