Government targets end to open dumping practices within two years

Bandung (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has targeted ending the practice of open dumping — the open disposal of waste without proper management — within the next two years as part of efforts to improve the national waste management system.

“Waste is not only the government’s business, it is everyone’s business. If waste is managed well, it can actually produce energy, fertiliser, even fuel,” said Zulhas in Bandung on Friday.

According to him, the waste problem has become an emergency condition in various major Indonesian cities, including the Greater Bandung area, which produces nearly 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.

He said the government is currently simplifying various regulations on the construction of waste-to-electricity processing facilities so that accelerated waste handling can be carried out in around 60 cities across Indonesia.

Nevertheless, Zulkifli stressed that resolving the waste problem does not depend solely on building large-scale processing technology. Changing people’s behaviour is an equally important factor.

“The most important thing is sorting waste at the household level. Organic and inorganic waste must be separated at the source,” he said.

Meanwhile, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi considers changing society’s culture to be the key to the success of regional waste management programmes.

He expressed concern that many people still prefer to record or make waste piles go viral rather than help clean them up.

“If you see rubbish, don’t film it — pick it up. That is the culture we must change,” said Dedi.

Dedi added that the West Java provincial government is also preparing a Governor’s Regulation prohibiting the indiscriminate dumping of waste, accompanied by sanctions for violators.

“We want a West Java that is clean, orderly and beautiful, moving towards an Indonesia that is safe, healthy, hygienic and beautiful,” he said.