Minister of Environment: Jakarta Still Holds Dirty City Status

JAKARTA — The Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has stated that Jakarta continues to hold the status of a dirty city.

This was conveyed by Hanif following a cleanliness drive at Kramat Jati Market in East Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

“The Special Capital Region of Jakarta retains its dirty city status to this day. All six administrative regions, from Central Jakarta to the Thousand Islands, fall into the dirty city category,” said Hanif.

Following this, Hanif said his ministry would continue to monitor waste management whilst pressing city mayors in Jakarta to begin implementing waste segregation regulations.

“No matter how advanced the technology used or how sophisticated the methodology debated, waste management fundamentally can only begin after waste segregation,” said Hanif.

“We can certainly learn from many countries that have employed waste-to-energy power generation. However, all of it starts with sorting. Without sorting, all our resources will be exhausted downstream,” he added.

Hanif also highlighted the condition of landfill sites, which currently have exceeded capacity. Meanwhile, the development of alternative disposal sites still requires time.

“Our landfill sites are already overloaded. Whilst alternative locations are being developed, they still need a minimum of three years. So there are still many problems we must resolve. Let us work together and join hands,” he said.

Government officials previously undertook a direct waste-clearing operation at Kramat Jati Market in East Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

The activity was attended by the Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, and the Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri.

At the site, the activity began with a roll call with participants of the cleanliness drive. Afterwards, the delegation of ministers, police chief, and city mayors walked through the lanes of Kramat Jati Market whilst collecting waste.

The Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq was observed interacting several times with traders to enquire about the waste management system at the market.

“Is the rubbish always collected and kept clean every day, or only when the Trade Minister and Environmental Minister are here?” Hanif asked a trader.

“Here every day sir, it’s already been sorted,” the trader replied.