Rise in Homeward Travellers Predicted; Deputy Minister Emphasises Waste Management
Indonesia’s Wakil Menteri Lingkungan Hidup (Deputy Minister of Environment) and Wakil Kepala Badan Pengendalian Lingkungan Hidup (Deputy Head of the Environment Control Agency), Diaz Hendropriyono, has raised concerns about the anticipated surge in the number of homeward-bound travellers during the Lebaran 2026 exodus and emphasised the importance of collaboration between transport facility operators and travellers to maintain cleanliness.
“We are observing preparations for the exodus, but since we are from the Environment Control Agency, we are focusing on waste management. We have heard that there will be an increase of around 20 per cent in travellers at Tegal Station alone, and it could be higher. This means the waste generated will increase, so we hope both homeward-bound travellers and transport operators will maintain public facilities and keep them free from waste,” said Deputy Minister Diaz on Sunday (15 March).
The Deputy Minister conducted inspections of waste management facilities at several transport hubs, including Klari Terminal in Karawang, Cirebon Station, Tegal Station, and Semarang Tawang Station.
During the inspection, Deputy Minister Diaz expressed appreciation to several transport nodes that have provided good waste management facilities, including segregated waste bins and the provision of free drinking water dispensers for passengers, such as at Cirebon and Tegal stations.
“We appreciate that there are already waste segregation bins that separate organic waste, inorganic waste, and hazardous materials. PT Kereta Api Indonesia has already begun sorting waste at source. I urge cooperation from homeward-bound travellers to avoid mixing waste so that downstream waste management does not become more difficult,” he stated.
In addition to dialogue with local government authorities and transport facility operators, Deputy Minister Diaz also spoke with homeward-bound travellers at each location. On this occasion, Diaz distributed food containers, tumblers, and first-aid kits to travellers.
“We from the Environment Control Agency want to provide food containers and tumblers so that people no longer use single-use plastics. I noticed there are water dispensers available so people can refill water for free at any time, but they need to have their own tumblers, so they do not use disposable plastic bottles,” he explained.
Deputy Minister Diaz added that transport hubs can also collaborate with community self-help groups that manage facilities such as waste banks and integrated waste management facilities (TPS3R) to reduce the burden of waste going to landfills.
“There is a possibility that cooperation with nearby waste banks is needed to collect high-value waste, and then low-value or valueless waste can be taken to landfills,” he said.