The Bantargebang waste tragedy stands as evidence of systemic\nfailure.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) Jakarta is pressing the\ngovernment to undertake a paradigm revolution in waste management.\nRather than relying on expensive large-scale thermal technology, the\ngovernment is urged to prioritise waste management directly at the\nupstream level, particularly for organic waste categories.<\/p>\n
Walhi Jakarta\u2019s campaigner Muhammad Aminullah has highlighted the\ngovernment\u2019s current preference for investing in technologies such as\nRefuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) and incinerators. Yet these technologies are\nconsidered misaligned with Indonesia\u2019s waste characteristics, which are\ndominated by wet and organic waste.<\/p>\n
Aminullah explained that the government\u2019s frequent claims about\nbudgetary constraints and technological limitations are not relevant.\nAccording to him, upstream solutions are far cheaper, more applicable,\nand more sustainable compared to large-scale investments in thermal\ndevices.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at our waste characteristics, the majority is organic. The\ntechnology should adapt accordingly. This is actually not expensive\ncompared to investing in devices like RDF, incineration, and PSEL\n(waste-to-electricity processing),\u201d said Aminullah in an interview on\nTuesday, 10 March 2026.<\/p>\n
He outlined that organic waste could actually be managed completely\nat the neighbourhood or village level with simple infrastructure, such\nas composting or black soldier fly larvae farming. However, the\ngovernment has become trapped in technologies requiring high operational\ncosts and risking new environmental pollution.<\/p>\n
Specifically regarding RDF technology, Walhi Jakarta regards this\nmethod as poorly suited to Jakarta. The condition of mixed and wet waste\nmakes the processing extremely expensive, as it requires stages of\nsorting, shredding, and intensive drying.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Aminullah warned of systematic risks from the presence\nof RDF installations. Economically, RDF machines require a stable waste\nsupply to remain profitable operationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cRDF will actually stimulate society to be more consumptive. RDF\nbecomes profitable when there is waste. If the public stops generating\nwaste, the machine does not operate. Ultimately, a dilemma emerges to\nmaintain waste production to keep the machine running,\u201d he\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
Regarding low community participation in waste sorting, Walhi\nstressed that blame cannot be entirely placed on the public. Although\nregulations mandating sorting already exist, implementation and\ninfrastructure support in the field remain minimal.<\/p>\n
The government is expected to take a persuasive door-to-door approach\nto shape community behaviour whilst providing adequate supporting\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom our observations in the field, there are still many people\nwilling to manage waste but lacking facilities and infrastructure. There\nmust be intensive government support,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Beyond government and citizen roles, Walhi reminded of corporate\n(producer) obligations that have largely been overlooked. Under the\nWaste Management Law, companies are required to take back the packaging\nof products after consumer use.<\/p>\n
Currently, the burden of managing packaging waste is largely borne by\nthe state through regional and national budgets. Walhi considers current\npoint-exchange programmes or collection containers inadequate and not\nreaching producers on a massive scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the public buys is the contents, not the packaging. The\npackaging is the company\u2019s responsibility. It is already very clear in\nthe law that companies must take back and manage their packaging again,\u201d\nAminullah concluded.<\/p>\n
The government is accelerating the development of micro-scale waste\nprocessing technology based on campus research for implementation down\nto the village and neighbourhood levels. This represents a direct\ndirective from President Prabowo Subianto as a strategic step in\naddressing the waste problem.<\/p>\n
More than 340 waste disposal sites (TPA) in Indonesia still use open\ndumping methods despite being prohibited by law.<\/p>\n
Waste that is not useful can become something with high economic\nvalue, including being processed into animal feed, pellets, bioethanol,\nand briquettes, among others. The Environment Minister Hanif Faisol\nNurofiq and the Environment Ministry continued a series of\ncommemorations for National Waste Care Day (HPSN) 2026.<\/p>\n
Indocement is accelerating energy transition by replacing coal with\nRefuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), a more environmentally friendly alternative\nfuel. Processing capacity is considered low, managing only 50 tonnes per\nday and producing 15 tonnes of RDF. RDF technology, beyond processing\nnew waste, can also be operated to manage old waste currently forming\nmountains of refuse at the Bantargebang transfer station.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/walhi-jakarta-criticises-rdf-waste-management-at-source-level-more-effective-1773150774", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }