Environment Minister Praises Surabaya's Waste Management

Surabaya, East Java — Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, who is also the Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), praised a community clean-up operation along the Kalimas River in Surabaya. ‘I am very proud, really proud of the City of Surabaya. At present Surabaya is the city with the best waste management nationally,’ the minister said as he inspected the activity on Friday. He said environmental improvement efforts were not only visible in the city centre but also in various residential areas that are continually improving. ‘That is reflected in the national-leading waste management performance score for Surabaya,’ Minister Hanif said. He explained that Surabaya currently generates around 1,800 tonnes of waste per day. Of that amount, more than 1,000 tonnes are projected to be handled through the Waste-to-Energy Plant (PLTSa) in Benowo. The central government, he added, continues to oversee the development of waste-to-energy conversion in Surabaya. Funding for the facility has been prepared in several stages. ‘For funding in 2025, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, the disbursement of the budget will be carried out this year. There were some earlier hurdles due to regulatory changes, but after an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), payments for the Benowo facility will soon be realised,’ the Environment Minister said. Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi said the Kalimas River clean-up is part of efforts to maintain environmental quality and strengthen public awareness of the importance of waste management. He explained that the Surabaya city government requires waste segregation not only at household level but also in the business sector such as hotels, restaurants, cafes (horeka), and shopping centres. Additionally, waste collection from the business sector must use compactor vehicles, and burning of waste is not permitted. ‘With the support of the central government, we hope that self-sufficiency in waste management at the village level and at business premises can become stronger, so the city’s waste handling burden can continue to decrease,’ he said.