Indonesia to Resolve 34 Waste Mountain Crisis Within Two Years
The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs has affirmed that the government will address Indonesia’s waste emergency within the next two years. This urban waste management programme targets between 24 and 34 locations currently categorised as emergency waste sites.
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that this initiative aligns with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto. “Following the Presidential Regulation and special assignment from the President, we will resolve the issue within two years for approximately 24 to 34 mountains of waste, specifically those involving open dumping or those categorised as emergencies,” Hasan said during the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (IISF) 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He noted that one of the primary efforts to tackle domestic waste issues is through Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology. This is particularly urgent as waste accumulation issues, such as those at Bantar Gebang, have remained unresolved for 11 years. The WTE programme aims to organise urban environments while providing environmental, social, and economic benefits by reducing daily waste piles and producing renewable resources.
At least three Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) projects have officially entered the construction phase, namely PSEL Denpasar Raya in Bali, PSEL Bekasi City, and PSEL Bogor Raya 1.
- PSEL Denpasar Raya
On 8 July 2026, the Danantara Indonesia Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara) officially commenced construction of the Denpasar Raya PSEL project in Bali. The facility is designed using European environmental standards.
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Danantara Indonesia, Pandu Sjahrir, stated that the commencement coincided with the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The facility is designed in accordance with the European Industrial Emissions Directive (EU IED) to ensure environmentally friendly processing.
The Bali facility is targeted to process over 500,000 tonnes of waste per year, accounting for more than 40 per cent of Bali’s waste generation. The project is projected to reduce landfill emissions by up to 80 per cent and cut carbon emissions by approximately 640,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This IDR 3 trillion initiative is expected to generate green energy for around 100,000 households in Bali, create 1,200 green jobs, and reduce landfill land requirements by 80 per cent.
- PSEL Bekasi City
BPI Danantara inaugurated the construction of the Waste-to-Energy facility in Ciketing Udik, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi City, West Java, on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The facility aims for a processing capacity of 500,000 tonnes of waste per year, or approximately 1,500 tonnes per day. The energy produced can supply electricity to 100,000 homes and create over 1,000 jobs.
With an investment value of IDR 3 trillion, the plant will process 70 per cent of the total waste generated in the region. CIO Pandu Sjahrir revealed that the operation will reduce landfill land requirements by up to 90 per cent. The project underwent an evaluation process involving six consortiums before selecting two final partners.
The Bekasi project is also projected to reduce landfill emissions by 80 per cent and lower carbon emissions by 640,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The infrastructure is designed to supply electricity to 55,000 households in the Bekasi area and adopts the European Industrial Emissions Directive (EU IED) standards.
- PSEL Bogor Raya
Danantara Indonesia, through PT Danantara Investment Management (DIM) and PT Daya Energi Bersih Nusantara (Denera), has inaugurated the construction of the processing facility…