Ministry of Environment Pursues Parties Responsible for Bantargebang Contamination

Jakarta – The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has stated that environmental law enforcement will target parties responsible for pollution, including in the case of the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST).

Rizal Irawan, Deputy for Law Enforcement at the KLH/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the ministry is investigating the waste landslide that killed seven people at TPST Bantargebang. The ministry had previously conducted investigations into the waste disposal site, which is managed by the Jakarta Provincial Government.

“Law enforcement can target parties responsible according to their respective roles, both operators and those with authority,” said Deputy Rizal.

Law enforcement is conducted when serious violations of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management and Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management are found. Legal action can be taken when non-standard waste management practices are discovered that cause pollution or endanger safety, as in the Bantargebang case.

Regarding summoning the TPST Bantargebang operators and the Jakarta Provincial Government, Rizal stated this can be done if violations of environmental regulations are indicated.

“If the investigation reveals indications of violations of Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management and Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management, law enforcement will be carried out according to applicable regulations, including the possibility of summoning responsible parties,” he explained.

Previously, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Jakarta announced that all victims of the waste landslide at TPST Bantargebang had been found on Tuesday (10 March). Seven people died from being buried in waste, with six others rescued successfully.

Landslides have previously occurred at TPST Bantargebang in 2003 and in 2006 when zone 3 collapsed, resulting in fatalities and burying dozens of waste pickers. Additionally, in January 2026, a section at TPST Bantargebang collapsed, pulling three waste trucks to the bottom of the river.