Eddy: Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Underscores Urgency of Accelerating WTE Programme
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Eddy Soeparno, stated that the fire at the Jatiwaringin Landfill in Tangerang, Banten, underscores the importance of accelerating the national waste management programme through waste-to-energy (WTE) mechanisms.
Eddy, in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, said the incident demonstrates that Indonesia can no longer rely on waste management systems based solely on landfilling.
“The Jatiwaringin landfill fire serves as an alarm that our waste management capacity has reached a point requiring fundamental change, including processing waste into resources that benefit the community, such as into electricity,” he said.
Such conditions increase the risk of fire due to the accumulation of methane gas, exacerbate environmental pollution, and simultaneously waste the energy and economic potential contained within the waste.
Therefore, he supports the steps taken by President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently accelerating the construction of WTE facilities in various regions as part of the national waste management overhaul.
According to him, the WTE programme is one of the strategic solutions because it can address two challenges simultaneously: reducing the volume of waste entering landfills and producing electricity that can be utilised by the community.
“This is a tangible form of the circular economy, providing added value to something that has long been considered waste,” he said.
He stated that his office will continue to oversee the construction and operational processes of WTE to ensure they meet environmental regulations, utilise the best available technology, and are conducted transparently.
“The implementation of this programme must ensure that the technology used meets international emission standards, is strictly monitored, and produces the clean energy we need for the energy transition,” he said.
In addition to building WTE facilities, he emphasised that waste reduction at the source must remain a priority through household waste sorting, increased recycling, and the strengthening of waste banks.
“Waste-to-energy does not mean we are ignoring waste reduction efforts; rather, WTE is part of an integrated waste management system. Waste that still has economic value must be recycled first, while the residue can be utilised as an energy source,” he noted.
“We need the courage to make a policy leap by accelerating the development of waste-to-energy as part of a national strategy towards a cleaner, healthier, and more energy-independent Indonesia,” he added.
The fire at the Jatiwaringin landfill has been ongoing since Tuesday (30/06). The Tangerang Regency Government has declared a 14-day disaster emergency response status for the fire, effective from 1 July 2026.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded that 102 residents have been displaced due to the plumes of smoke from the fire to avoid the dangers of hazardous waste material smoke dispersion.