Central Java Environment Chief Urges Citizens to Process Free Meal Waste Instead of Sending It to Landfills

The Head of the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) of Central Java Province, Heru Djatmika, has urged that waste generated from the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme not be disposed of at final processing sites (TPA). According to him, the majority of MBG waste is organic, making it easier to process.

Heru stated that MBG waste mostly consists of leftover food or processed food ingredients. He mentioned that this can be utilised to make liquid fertiliser, eco-enzymes, or maggot feed, which can then be used as poultry feed.

"That is why I said, if possible, MBG waste should not be thrown into the TPA," Heru said during an interview at the Central Java Governor’s Office in Semarang City on Monday (13/7/2026).

According to Heru, MBG waste will not actually burden the TPA. "But we would prefer that MBG waste is dealt with at the local level, as there are sure to be waste banks or community self-help groups managing it in the surrounding area," he said.

"So it can be made into fertiliser or used as a planting medium with molasses and so on. Because organic waste is much easier to process than inorganic waste," Heru added.

He explained that there are 49 TPAs in Central Java Province, 43 of which still use an open dumping system. "Of the 43 open dumping sites, 23 have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment," he said.

Heru added that the 23 sanctioned TPAs must be immediately improved and converted to a controlled landfill system. "We are currently coordinating with regencies and cities to immediately improve the open dumping TPAs that have been sanctioned," Heru said.