Criminal liability threatened in Bantargebang landfill collapse disaster

A waste heap collapse at the Bantargebang temporary waste treatment site (TPST) in Bekasi City, West Java has resulted in tragedy, with criminal liability now threatening those responsible.

The incident occurred on Sunday, 8 March 2026 at approximately 14:00 WIB. The collapse happened suddenly, with the waste heap burying market stalls and several rubbish trucks beneath it.

“Witnesses heard residents screaming about a collapse, then saw the waste heap suddenly cave in, blocking the road and crushing a market stall and several refuse trucks,” said Metro Bekasi City Police Chief Brigadier General Kusumo in his statement on Monday (9/3/2026).

News of the Bantargebang collapse spread rapidly through the TPST security communication network, prompting personnel to rush to the site. Police from Bantargebang Police Substation responded immediately upon receiving the information.

A series of rescue operations was conducted. Seven people were found dead, whilst six others survived.

Criminal Liability Threatened

Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq affirmed that his ministry was investigating criminal elements related to the incident. Hanif stated that someone must be held accountable for the fatal incident.

“This is in accordance with Law Number 32 of 2009, under which there is legal responsibility that must be borne by the facility operator. Similarly, under Law Number 18 of 2008, there is also legal responsibility that must be addressed,” Hanif told journalists at Kramat Jati Market, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (11/3/2026).

Hanif said the investigation process was ongoing. He stated that his ministry would soon identify suspects responsible for the incident.

“We will accelerate completion of this investigation. Hopefully within a week, next week we will already have identified suspects in order to uphold justice for all of us and create a learning point for waste management,” he explained.

According to Law Number 18 of 2008, open dumping or uncontrolled disposal is already prohibited, Hanif said. He stated that the investigation would examine negligence in open dumping practices, including identifying all parties involved.

“Therefore, this investigation will extend to all officials responsible since the enactment of that law. The law essentially sets a five-year limit from when Law 2008 was established, so all open dumping must cease,” he said.

“So this incident is merely the tip of the iceberg. There must be previous officials whom we also need to question about why open dumping activities were not stopped,” he added.

Highlighting the overloading problem

Hanif also highlighted the overcrowded waste conditions at Bantargebang TPST, which posed dangers to workers. Additionally, Hanif cited violations in waste management at Bantargebang TPST.

“From an environmental perspective, we have already identified that heavy metal contamination has appeared in rivers and community wells around Bantargebang. This we will continue to investigate. We must urgently and gradually shift waste management away from Bantargebang entirely,” Hanif said.

He stressed that he would not hesitate to impose sanctions on those who violate waste management regulations. He urged all parties to comply with existing regulations.

“This mess must end immediately. This is a critically important moment with strong strategic support from our highest leader, Mr President, so that we can end the waste crisis by 2029 as a turning point, a reversal in our waste management approach with measurable targets,” he concluded.

The tip of the iceberg

Hanif stated that this incident represented merely the tip of the iceberg regarding Bantargebang’s waste problems. He would be questioning previous officials as well.

“So this incident is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’. There must be previous officials whom we also need to question about why open dumping activities were not halted,” Hanif said.

Hanif highlighted the waste conditions at Bantargebang TPST, which endangered workers. He cited violations in waste management at the facility.

“From an environmental perspective, we have already identified heavy metal contamination appearing in rivers and community wells around Bantargebang. We will continue investigating this. We must urgently and gradually shift waste management operations away from Bantargebang entirely,” Hanif said.

Hanif stated that 80 million tonnes of waste had accumulated at Bantargebang TPST. He described the dire conditions at Bantargebang as dangerous for surrounding residents.

“According to our records, over 80 million tonnes of waste are stockpiled at Bantargebang TPST. The height of inactive areas reaches 50 metres, whilst the height of active waste accumulation reaches 73 metres,” he said.

Hanif noted that Jakarta still retained the status of a “dirty city”. He said local governments needed to improve their approach to addressing the waste crisis.

“The DKI Jakarta authority still maintains its status as a dirty city. The dirty city category applies to all six administrative regions, from Central Jakarta to the Thousand Islands, all fall under the dirty city classification,” he said.

Jakarta Regional Legislative Council forms special committee

The Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) has established a Special Committee (Pansus) on waste management following the tragedy at Bantargebang TPST. The committee will also evaluate waste management policies and systems in Jakarta.

“We at the Jakarta DPRD have formed a Special Committee (Pansus) on Jakarta Waste Management to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of policies, systems, and the direction of waste management in the capital,” said Jakarta DPRD member Raden Gusti Arief in his statement on Wednesday (11/3).

Arief said the formation of this committee was partly intended to audit Jakarta’s waste management system comprehensively. The committee would also re-examine Jakarta’s dependence on Bantargebang TPST.