President Prabowo Targets End of Indonesia's Waste Problem by 2027

President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for Indonesia to significantly resolve its waste problem by the end of 2027, as part of efforts to protect the environment.

Speaking at the mass handover ceremony for 62,000 subsidised housing units (KPR) in Batang, Central Java, on Thursday, President Prabowo Subianto said waste management is an important part of facing the challenges of climate change and global warming.

“God willing, within the next one to two years we will make drastic changes. By the end of 2027, Indonesia’s waste problem will be resolved. There will be no more mountains of rubbish — we will achieve this,” he said in a statement from the Presidential Secretariat monitored in Jakarta.

According to Prabowo, increasingly erratic weather patterns demand that all parties be more proactive in protecting the environment. One of the main steps that must be taken is to comprehensively control the waste problem.

Prabowo affirmed that resolving the waste problem is part of the sustainable development agenda carried out by the government.

In addition to strengthening food, energy and industrialisation resilience, the government is also committed to maintaining environmental quality so that Indonesia becomes a healthier and more liveable country.

On that occasion, Prabowo also announced plans to hold a cleanest city competition, with budget incentives for regional governments that excel in maintaining cleanliness and managing waste.

“We will hold a cleanest city competition. The cleanest cities — number one, two, three, four, five — we will give them incentives. The cleanest city, if possible, will receive Rp20 billion. The five cleanest cities will get Rp20 billion. The five cities below them Rp10 billion, and so on,” he said.

According to Prabowo, providing incentives in the form of budget allocations will be more beneficial than merely giving symbolic awards to high-achieving regions.