DKI Jakarta Begins Waste Sorting, Puan: It Must Become a National Movement

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani welcomes and encourages the expansion of the Waste Sorting and Processing Movement from the source policy implemented by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to the national level.

“The culture of sorting waste must become a national movement to protect public health and the future of our cities or environment,” said Puan Maharani in a press release on Sunday (10/5/2026).

This policy is part of the urgent cultural shift in urban living that society must undertake.

Moreover, waste in big cities is no longer merely an environmental cleanliness issue, but one concerning the quality of life for the public.

“What is at stake today is the quality of public health, the quality of living spaces for the younger generation, as well as the ability of Indonesia’s major cities to withstand urbanisation pressures and long-term environmental crises,” added Puan.

Puan also assessed the biggest problem in national waste management.

According to her, the biggest problem is not solely the continuously increasing volume of waste, but the habit of seeing waste as something that “disappears” after being collected from homes.

However, she said, waste that is not managed properly ultimately returns as a health issue, pollution, flooding, and a decline in public quality of life.

Therefore, she supports local government initiatives that begin to encourage direct public involvement in the waste management process.

“I hope the habit of sorting waste can spread to other regions and eventually become a national policy as done in advanced countries,” said Puan.

According to her, support and real commitment from regulators are needed. The state must ensure that the public receives an easy system, ongoing education, and certainty that sorted waste is truly managed well and appropriately.

Furthermore, Puan stated that the waste sorting policy aligns with the targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Sustainable Development Goals, which is a global agenda, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).