Police Investigate Illegal Waste Dumping Following Fire at Waringinkurung Landfill
The fire at the Waringinkurung landfill in Serang Regency, Banten, has yet to be fully extinguished. Police are investigating suspicions that certain individuals have been intentionally dumping waste at the site.
Local residents first noticed the fire on Friday (28/8) around 6:00 PM WIB in Kampung Pranje, Waringinkurung Village. Police stated that the location was formerly a former brick quarry site that had been repurposed as a landfill.
Chief of Waringinkurung Police, Inspector Hari Purwanto, noted that the land in Waringinkurung is an asset owned by the Serang City Government, which had been used as a temporary landfill by the Serang Regency Government since 2020 due to a lack of alternative disposal sites.
“We are currently following up on this, as per orders from our leadership to investigate. We are concerned that despite closing the site in 2025, there are still individuals dumping waste there. We are also concerned that the site might be being exploited for commercial purposes,” said Hari.
The site’s operations were ceased in 2025 after the Serang Regency Government was permitted to dispose of waste at the Cilowong landfill. “In 2025, we took action to ensure no more waste disposal activities took place there. The site has been non-operational since 2025 because the Serang Regency Government was authorised to move to the Cilowong landfill,” Hari added on Sunday (30/8).
“In early 2026, the Serang Regency and Serang City authorities entered into an MoU, allowing Serang Regency to use the Cilowong landfill in Gunungsari,” Hari explained.
Since the closure of the Waringinkurung landfill, tall weeds have grown over the mounds of waste, which eventually ignited a few days ago. “It is true; the fire began with the weeds. Once the weeds caught fire, the old waste underneath ignited. The volume of waste is truly immense; what is burning now is not just the weeds, but the accumulated waste from previous years,” he said.
He added, “Although we found some new waste recently, that part did not burn. Instead, it was the dry, older layers that ignited.”
Heavy Machinery Deployed
Joint task forces are still managing the fire at the Waringinkurung landfill. Four fire engines and one unit of heavy machinery have been deployed to the scene.
“Regarding the current situation, there are no large active flames, but smoke persists because the fire is burning beneath the surface of the waste piles, making it difficult to extinguish,” said Inspector Hari Purwanto when contacted on Sunday (30/8/2026).
“In terms of handling, we have coordinated with the local authorities (Muspika) regarding the need for heavy machinery, and thankfully, an excavator arrived today. The excavator operator is coordinating with the fire department,” he added.
Hari explained that heavy machinery is being used to break up the waste piles so that firefighters can reach the core of the fire. He noted that efforts are underway to bring in more machinery to facilitate the extinguishing process.
Residents Complain of Respiratory Issues
Residents near the illegal Waringinkurung landfill in Serang Regency, Banten, report that the fire remains active, meaning the blaze has been burning for 24 hours.
Lisna Hasbullah, a resident of Kampung Cibeka, stated that flames are still visible from residential areas located approximately 400 metres from the site. Photos sent by Lisna show the fire glowing brightly in the darkness of the night.
Lisna also reported that some residents heard popping sounds, similar to firecrackers, coming from the site. “The children said it sounds like firecrackers,” Lisna told reporters on Saturday (29/8/2026).
Lisna noted that a strong smell of smoke has reached her home, which is about 700 metres from the landfill. “In Kampung Cibeka, the smell of smoke is pungent. Residents are complaining of shortness of breath,” she said.