Bantargebang Now a "Time Bomb" for Jakarta
Members of the Jakarta DPRD have highlighted the condition of the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), which is cited as one of the largest contributors to methane gas emissions globally. Hardiyanto Kenneth, a member of the Jakarta DPRD from the PDI Perjuangan faction, stated that Jakarta’s waste issue is no longer merely a matter of urban cleanliness, but has become a threat to the environment and public health.
“This is a major alarm for DKI Jakarta. When Bantargebang is identified as one of the largest contributors of methane gas in the world, we can no longer view waste issues solely as a matter of collection and final disposal,” Kenneth told Kompas.com via text message on Sunday (17/05/2026).
Kenneth noted that the high daily volume of waste produced by Jakarta causes Bantargebang to continuously serve as a massive accumulation point. “Jakarta produces a very large amount of waste every day, while our management pattern still relies on the collect-transport-dispose system. As a result, Bantargebang has become a giant accumulation point that continuously produces methane gas,” he said.
He believes this situation should serve as a momentum for the Jakarta Provincial Government to implement a total change in the waste management system. “It is time for Jakarta to undertake a revolution in waste management based on reduction at the source, household sorting, strengthening recycling, and the utilisation of modern, environmentally friendly processing technologies,” he added.
Kenneth also urged the Jakarta Provincial Government to accelerate the development of modern waste processing facilities, such as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), waste-to-energy plants, and methane capture systems to be converted into energy. “We must be brave enough to invest in more modern and sustainable waste processing technologies. Many countries have already turned waste into a source of energy and a new economic resource,” he said, adding that residents around Bantargebang have borne the burden of Jakarta’s waste for far too long.
Previously, a recent report from the Emmett Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law placed the Bantargebang TPST in second place as a waste sector location with the largest methane gas emissions in the world. In the report titled ‘Spotlight on the Top Methane Plumes in 2025: Landfills’, released on 20 April 2026, Bantargebang was reported to produce methane emissions of approximately 6.3 tonnes per hour.