Only 1–2 Rest Areas Meet Waste Management Standards; Government Grants 2-Month Deadline for Improvements

The government has discovered that the majority of rest areas along the Jakarta–Surabaya tollway have not yet met the waste management standards established by authorities. Of approximately 60 rest areas subjected to government enforcement to prepare waste management facilities, only one to two locations have been assessed as meeting requirements.

Environment Minister Hanif Faisol stated that rest areas represent a critical point for promoting a change in waste management practices amongst the public, particularly because the tollway corridor is used by many migrants from various regions during peak travel periods.

“Of the approximately 60 rest areas we surveyed, only one or two meet the requirements demanded by the government. However, they still have approximately two months remaining to carry out improvements,” he said in South Jakarta on Tuesday (17 March).

According to him, the government has reminded rest area operators to promptly prepare adequate waste management facilities. Should operators fail to fulfil these obligations by the deadline, the government has not ruled out imposing more severe sanctions, including criminal proceedings.

He explained that rest areas are required to provide waste segregation facilities in accordance with the capacity of waste generated, which typically ranges between 1.5 and 2.5 tonnes per day. These facilities must include separate waste bins for organic and inorganic waste, machinery for sorting inorganic waste, and organic waste processing at the site, such as through composting.

Under this system, waste generated by visitors is expected to be handled directly at the rest area, thereby not adding to the waste management burden of the local district or city government.

To accelerate improvements, the government, together with the Ministry of Public Works, plans to invite all rest area operators on 2 April to provide technical guidance regarding waste management operations in these areas.

“On 2 April, we, together with colleagues from the Ministry of Public Works, will invite all rest area operators to provide guidance on what needs to be done regarding waste management operations at rest areas,” said Hanif.