Tangerang Regency to Transform Jatiwaringin Landfill into Controlled Landfill

The Tangerang Regency administration in Banten Province has committed to a major transformation of waste management at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk District. The management system at TPA Jatiwaringin will be gradually shifted from an open dumping method to a controlled landfill system. Ujat Sudrajat, Head of the Tangerang Regency Environmental and Sanitation Agency (DLHK), explained that this move is a serious response by the local government following the handling of the fire that struck the TPA Jatiwaringin area. This transformation is targeted to become a primary focus in 2027. “By 2027, it has become the concern of the Tangerang Regent and us to continue this transformation, including the capping process to prevent microplastic pollution,” Ujat said in Tangerang on Tuesday (7/7/2026). The system improvement will be carried out in stages considering the total area of TPA Jatiwaringin reaches 33 hectares. Ujat acknowledged that the transition to a controlled landfill system requires enormous resources and costs. As an initial step, the government plans to begin this process at the end of 2026 by targeting an area of one to two hectares first. Currently, the local government’s main focus remains on controlling the fire. The unstable and hollow characteristics of the waste piles pose a significant challenge for officers in the field. “The obstacle is indeed the inner waste piles which are easily trapped. If you step on them, the depth can be hollow and collapse. That is very dangerous for officers if they are not accompanied by heavy equipment and direct water spraying,” he explained. The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) is also pushing for the acceleration of this rehabilitation. Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage (PPKL) at KLH, Rasio Ridho Sani, stressed the importance of abandoning the open dumping system for environmental safety. “The important step we must take first is the closure of open dumping landfills. This practice poses a risk of releasing methane gas which is dangerous for the environment, triggers climate change, and poses a risk of explosion or fire,” Rasio stated. Besides the fire risk, the open system is highly susceptible to producing leachate that can pollute the surrounding environment, especially during the rainy season. With the controlled landfill system, it is hoped that these risks can be minimised through more modern, safe, and environmentally friendly waste management.