Gunungkidul Regency Targets Household-Level Waste Management
The Gunungkidul Regency Government, through the Environmental Agency (DLH), is targeting waste management to be resolved at the household level to continuously reduce the volume of waste distributed to the Wukirsari Landfill and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (TPS3R) processing sites.
The Head of the Gunungkidul Environmental Agency, Edy Basuki, stated on Friday that the agency is focusing on achieving a target of zero organic waste at landfills by August 2026 by optimising the role of TPS3R and waste banks. “Gunungkidul already has almost 400 waste banks and 21 TPS3R sites as a mitigation step to ensure the community no longer disposes of organic waste directly to the landfill,” he said.
He expressed hope that household-generated waste could be processed independently so that it is no longer entirely disposed of at the Wukirsari landfill or TPS3R. He noted that inorganic waste can be sorted and deposited at established waste banks, which can then collaborate with collectors to retrieve paper, used beverage bottles, and other plastic waste.
For organic waste, residents are encouraged to create compost pits or organic waste processing sites around their homes, given that many houses in Gunungkidul still have relatively large plots of land. “Organic waste can later become fertiliser or compost that is beneficial for the soil,” he said. He added that composting sites could also be created using recycled items, such as mineral water gallons or plastic buckets.
Edy noted that waste generation in Gunungkidul Regency reaches approximately 50 to 60 tonnes per day, comprising both organic and inorganic waste. “The hope is that if every family stops sending waste to the landfill, the volume of incoming waste could drop to around 20 tonnes per day,” he said. Consequently, the Environmental Agency is intensifying socialisation efforts to ensure that awareness of household waste management grows gradually.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Gunungkidul, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, has convened all civil servants within the Environmental Agency to discuss various environmental issues and challenges. “The Environmental Agency is the frontline in maintaining the sustainability of Bumi Handayani, and the task of waste management is a sacred mission for the heritage of our grandchildren,” she stated.
Endah also urged all Environmental Agency staff to strengthen cross-organisational collaboration to maintain environmental sustainability, as this responsibility must be undertaken collectively while ensuring the quality of public services. “We must strengthen the integration of environmentally conscious development planning while ensuring legal certainty and the quality of public services in Gunungkidul Regency,” she added.