Environment Minister Issues Circular Following Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire

The Ministry of Environment/Bureau of Environmental Control (KLH/BPLH) has requested regional governments to strengthen fire mitigation at final processing sites (TPA) following a fire at the Jatiwaringin TPA in Tangerang Regency. Minister of Environment/Head of BPLH Moh Jumhur Hidayat issued Circular Letter Number 11 of 2026 concerning Preparedness and Anticipation of Fires at Final Waste Processing Sites (TPA) during Extreme Hot Weather Conditions as a guideline for regional governments. The fire at Jatiwaringin TPA occurred on Tuesday (30/6) at 07.30 WIB and as of Thursday (2/7), the extinguishing process was still ongoing. The Tangerang Regency Government has declared a disaster emergency status through Tangerang Regent Decree Number 609 of 2026. KLH/BPLH has deployed a technical team to conduct field verification, oversee the mitigation process, and ensure handling proceeds according to safety protocols. At the direction of the Minister of Environment, the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement, the Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage, and the Deputy for Waste, Hazardous and Toxic Materials Management also inspected the location to strengthen coordination with the Banten Provincial Government, Tangerang Regency Government, BNPB, Ministry of Forestry, TNI, Polri, and other relevant agencies. KLH explained that extinguishing efforts are being carried out via land routes by the Tangerang Regency Government and by air using BNPB water bombing helicopters. Efforts for artificial rain have also been attempted but could not yet be implemented because cloud conditions did not meet technical requirements. The extinguishing operation was reinforced by 30 personnel from the Ministry of Forestry’s Manggala Agni Team, consisting of 10 personnel from the West Java Forest and Land Fire Section I and 20 personnel from South Sulawesi along with inject equipment. Meanwhile, 32 families have been evacuated to safer locations. Medical teams are on standby to provide health services and distribute masks to affected residents. KLH/BPLH also handed over 100 sets of dust and smoke masks to the Tangerang Regency Government. Air quality monitoring around the site shows PM2.5 concentrations in the hazardous category with values exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre. Consequently, access to several areas has been restricted for public safety. The preliminary suspicion is that the fire was triggered by hot weather causing hotspots in the waste piles which then spread. The height of the waste piles, reaching 20 to 30 metres, means the firefighting process at the Jatiwaringin TPA requires special handling. The Ministry of Environment stated the exact cause of the fire will be investigated after the emergency situation is brought under control.