Solo Mayor Respati Calls for 'Waste Revolution' to End Open Dumping

Solo Mayor Respati Ardi has stressed the need to change the pattern of waste management. He spoke of a ‘waste revolution’, a breakthrough to alter the habit of directly transporting waste to the final disposal site (TPA).

‘The challenge is the habit of the previous transport pattern, directly sending it to the TPA. Today, the pattern must be changed,’ Respati said during an interview with detikcom on Tuesday (15/7/2026). ‘The waste revolution means we must be able to sort and process waste independently upstream. There must be a commitment from the government to encourage the community to change their existing habits, and this is certainly not populist.’

Respati understands that some residents will dislike the breakthrough. Nevertheless, he believes the impact of this step will leave a positive legacy for future generations. ‘The public will certainly not like something new that changes their habits. This is a risk because it is not populist, but I am sure I do not want to leave a bad legacy for our successors,’ he stated.

Respati said that education on waste sorting must be taught from the school level. His administration is also prioritising budget allocation as a commitment to resolving the waste problem in Solo. ‘Therefore, starting from schools, we will involve community groups, young people, and women to socialise waste sorting and processing, and we will provide budget support,’ he said.

He hopes this waste revolution can change the paradigm from collecting and transporting waste to sorting it independently first. He also emphasised that environmental polluters must receive appropriate sanctions. ‘Yes, the waste processing revolution is about changing the paradigm from collect, transport, dispose, to sort and process independently. This is the revolution. We are involving community groups to directly participate in managing waste at the upstream level, and we are opening opportunities for economic value to be charged to business actors who pollute with waste,’ he explained.

Respati highlighted the formation of the ‘Semesta Task Force’ as the city government’s step to positively impact the environment. He does not want to see open dumping practices in Solo in the future. ‘Therefore, I formed the Semesta Task Force, where we care for our universe again. The final disposal site will no longer use open dumping, and there will be no more methane gas escaping,’ Respati said. ‘Awareness to care for the universe, especially in waste management, is the main key to success. Not just the government, not just community groups, but every individual will face sanctions if they damage the environment and the universe. Therefore, love the universe, and you will surely live happily.’