Dedi Mulyadi Highlights Impact of 'Godzilla' El Niño and Waste Accumulation in West Java
The Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, has highlighted the critical issues of waste accumulation and the extreme ‘Godzilla’ El Niño phenomenon threatening the West Java region. Regarding waste, Dedi noted that the capacity of the Sarimukti landfill will only be able to accommodate waste for another six months.
On the impact of El Niño, Dedi revealed that this year’s dry season will be significantly prolonged due to the phenomenon, with West Java being one of the Indonesian regions most affected. “We must anticipate the impacts of this long drought, including water shortages and even fires. According to BMKG information, the peak of the dry season in West Java will occur in August and September. I am requesting input and information from regents and mayors to map out problem-solving measures,” Dedi stated in a written briefing on Monday.
These remarks were made while presiding over a Coordination Meeting on Waste Management and Long-term Drought Mitigation in West Java for 2026. The meeting, held at the Indonesian Army Headquarters (Mabes AD) on Thursday, was attended by regents and mayors from 27 regencies and cities in West Java, as well as regional military commanders.
In his directive, Dedi emphasised that anticipatory measures must be implemented immediately without waiting for disasters to occur. Consequently, he invited the TNI and concerned members of the public to work together to mitigate the long drought and waste issues. He also requested that local governments survey areas that consistently face water shortages during the dry season to ensure daily and agricultural needs are met.
“Prepare water mobilisation from sources using water tankers. This requires support and cooperation with the TNI and bottled water entrepreneurs. Accelerate the construction of clean water networks and prepare water storage tanks in every village prone to drought; this must begin so there is no competition for water,” he added.
Regarding waste management, Dedi supports the TNI’s plan to develop waste processing based on ‘waste-to-fuel’ technology. Using the pyrolysis method, plastic waste will be processed into fuel. “Bandung City and Regency, Cimahi City, and West Bandung Regency are at risk of being unable to dispose of waste at Sarimmuiti, which will reach capacity within the next six months. Therefore, various efforts are needed to reduce waste disposal and manage existing waste accumulating at the landfill, including through the technology used by the TNI,” Dedi explained.
Similar efforts are required for the Cirebon, Bogor, and Tasikmalaya regions. Dedi emphasised short-term efforts through socialising waste reduction at the household level and long-term efforts through technology, such as waste-to-energy and waste-to-fuel.
“The Province will focus on three things in the revised regional budget (APBD): village roads, village street lighting, clean water, and waste management,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Indonesian Army (KASAD), General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, appreciated the West Java Provincial Government’s rapid response in anticipating potential issues from waste and the long drought. “The Governor is the most serious about mitigating waste problems and the threat of drought. We report that the TNI has already built at least 500 clean water distribution points, but as this is not yet well-documented, we will immediately conduct data collection to anticipate the drought, specifically in West Java,” he said.
He revealed the TNI’s involvement in waste management through the development of waste-to-fuel facilities in several locations in West Java, such as the Bantar Gebang and Sumur Batu Bekasi landfills, Galuga landfill in Bogor, and the Sarimukti landfill in West Bandung Regency. According to him, the waste-to-fuel facility in Sarimukti is ready to process 10 million tonnes of waste, which is nearly half of the current 25 million tonne capacity.
Maruli added that processing using incinerators at temperatures above 800 degrees Celsius has also begun operating in Ciwastra, Bandung City, as of last May. The incinerator has a burning capacity of 800 tonnes per day. “Whether in Bogor, Tasik, Bandung, or Karawang, we are ready to build waste-to-fuel facilities. It only depends on land availability; construction takes about one year,” he noted.
On the other hand, the Head of BMKG, Teuku Faisal Fathani, confirmed the prolonged drought approaching West Java. He noted that the dry season has already begun in the northern coastal areas of West Java. According to him, the dry season in West Java will generally last between three to seven months, necessitating anticipatory measures against potential drought disasters. “This year, the dry season has arrived earlier, longer, and drier due to the El Niño phenomenon. In June, it is already felt in the northern coast (Pantura), and from July to October, it will be widespread across West Java, peaking in August and September,” he concluded.