Environment Minister Appreciates RDF Waste Management in Jombang

Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat has expressed appreciation for the waste management system in Jombang Regency, East Java, which converts waste into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), stating it has been operating well. The Minister assessed that the waste management could serve as an example for other regions, particularly in implementing a waste reduction system from source to final processing site. “This actually already meets good waste management standards. We just need a little intervention so that the circular economy can run and provide greater economic value,” said the Environment Minister during a visit to the Banjardowo landfill facility in Jombang Regency on Wednesday. He added that the system applied at the Jombang facility meets modern waste management standards as it no longer relies on the old model of transport, dump, and discard. The central government will study additional support in the form of technology and equipment, including the possible procurement of RDF machines to increase the capacity for processing inorganic waste into alternative fuel for the cement industry. He explained that the use of RDF is considered environmentally friendly because it can replace some of the coal used as an energy source in the industrial sector. “This is very environmentally friendly because it reduces the use of coal fuel. So this is part of the effort to protect the earth while creating green jobs,” he stated. The Minister added that the development of waste processing technology also has the potential to increase the number of workers involved in the waste management chain, from sorting to final processing. Furthermore, the government will send a team of experts to calculate the economic scale of waste management in Jombang, including the possibility of increasing RDF production capacity to provide greater added value for the region. He also opened up opportunities for inter-regional cooperation through an agglomeration concept if the economics of sending waste from surrounding areas to the processing facility in Jombang is deemed feasible and profitable. The government is targeting that waste management issues in all regencies and cities in Indonesia can be resolved within the next one to two years through a combination of RDF development, circular economy, and the construction of waste-to-energy processing facilities. Meanwhile, Jombang Deputy Regent M. Salmanudin Yazid said the RDF initiative is very positive as it helps manage waste effectively. “This is very effective, because out of 500 tonnes per day of waste generated in Jombang Regency, 300 tonnes can be managed properly,” he said. He expressed hope for central government support regarding the RDF machinery, which could not only manage waste but also unlock economic potential from the processed waste. During his visit to Jombang, the Environment Minister directly inspected the waste processing at the Banjardowo landfill, including both non-organic and organic waste treatment.