Government Targets End to Open Dumping Within Two Years

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has announced a target to end the practice of open dumping within two years as part of efforts to improve the national waste management system.

“The waste problem is not just a government matter, but a matter for all of us. If managed properly, waste can even produce energy, fertiliser, and fuel,” Zulkifli said in Bandung.

He noted that waste has become a critical issue in many major Indonesian cities. The government is currently simplifying regulations for the construction of waste-to-energy processing facilities to accelerate the handling of waste in around 60 cities across Indonesia.

However, Zulkifli stressed that resolving the waste crisis cannot rely solely on large-scale processing technology. “The most important thing is sorting waste from the source. Organic and inorganic waste must be separated from the household level,” he said.

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi highlighted that a cultural shift in society is the main key to the programme’s success. He expressed concern that many people still prefer to film piles of rubbish rather than help clean them up. “If there is rubbish, don’t just video it, pick it up. That is the culture we must change,” Dedi said.

He added that the West Java provincial government is preparing a governor’s regulation that will prohibit littering and impose sanctions on violators.