DPR Urges Acceleration of Waste-to-Energy as National Waste Management Solution

A member of the House of Representatives’ Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body (BKSAP), Shanty Alda Nathalia, has stated that Indonesia needs to accelerate the development of waste-to-energy (WtE) technology as a strategic solution to address the national waste problem while supporting the transition to a circular economy and energy security. According to Shanty, the continuous increase in waste volume across various regions can no longer be handled solely through conventional approaches such as transportation and disposal at final processing sites. Innovation in waste management is required to reduce accumulation while providing economic benefits through energy utilisation. “The waste problem can no longer be solved only by transporting and stockpiling it. We need to promote waste-to-energy as a solution that can reduce waste accumulation while providing added value through energy utilisation. During the BKSAP working visit to Surabaya, we observed good practices that can serve as lessons learned for other regions in building a more modern and sustainable waste management system,” said Shanty. She explained that Indonesia has diverse regional characteristics and waste compositions, meaning the approach to developing waste-to-energy cannot be uniform. Regional governments need to be given the space to choose the technology most suitable for their respective conditions. “Going forward, Indonesia needs to continue exploring and developing various waste-to-energy technologies that match the characteristics of each region. The options are very diverse, ranging from technologies that produce electricity to those that can produce fuel, including through pyrolysis. Therefore, each region needs to have the flexibility to choose the technology most appropriate for its waste volume, composition, infrastructure readiness, and economic aspects so that implementation is truly effective and sustainable,” she clarified. Shanty added that the successful development of waste-to-energy also requires integrated policy support. Regulatory harmonisation between ministries and agencies is considered an important factor in creating legal certainty while increasing investor confidence to build energy-based waste processing facilities in Indonesia. “Equally important is cross-sector regulatory harmonisation so that waste-to-energy development has legal certainty and a conducive investment climate. Certainty regarding licensing, technology standards, and the utilisation of waste processing outputs will be important factors in accelerating the implementation of various waste-to-energy projects in Indonesia. With strong regulatory support, waste is no longer seen as an environmental burden, but as a resource that can support a circular economy, energy security, and sustainable development,” said Shanty.