Minister Hanif's Strategy to Tackle Indonesia's Waste Problem

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The government is intensifying national waste management through the Indonesia Asri movement, launched at the beginning of 2025. Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq emphasised that the approach is no longer just campaigns, but a systematic execution from upstream to downstream. Hanif stated that the waste problem is now positioned as a fundamental issue that must be resolved immediately. The continuously increasing daily waste production leaves the government with little time to delay. “The Indonesia Asri movement is a pure initiative, directly proposed by the President from the start of his term. This is an effort to solve our basic problem, namely waste,” Hanif said during Nation Hub CNBC Indonesia, quoted on Saturday (25/4/2026). Every individual contributes waste daily, averaging 0.5 to 0.7 kilograms. This figure, multiplied by the national population, becomes a major challenge requiring involvement from all parties. The government then divides the waste management approach based on the source. Households are handled by local governments, while the corporate sector is required to manage its own waste. “If we look at the sources, nearly 50% of waste comes from households and the other 50% from non-household sources, including corporations. Therefore, the approach must be different and specific,” he explained. In this context, Hanif stressed that companies, including hotels, restaurants, and cafes, can no longer rely solely on government management systems. They must be independent in managing their waste. These efforts are not just recommendations but are accompanied by law enforcement. The government has imposed administrative sanctions on hundreds of business actors in various regions. “In Jakarta alone, we have given administrative sanctions to nearly 500 business units. In Bali, around 400 hotels, restaurants, and cafes have been subjected to the same,” Hanif asserted. These sanctions have serious consequences. If not complied with, the government can freeze environmental permits or even halt business operations. Furthermore, the government is targeting the resolution of the national waste problem by 2029, in accordance with the national medium-term development plan. This target serves as a benchmark for cross-ministerial and regional government work. “If not done, we can freeze the environmental approval or even impose criminal penalties in accordance with applicable laws,” Hanif said.