Waste Emergency in Pekanbaru, Riau Police Warn of Environmental Disaster Threats

The waste crisis in Pekanbaru City, Riau Province, has entered an emergency phase requiring extraordinary handling. The accumulation of waste at the Muara Fajar landfill, which is already overcapacity, poses an ecological and social disaster threat.

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan, together with Pekanbaru City Government, checked the site on Thursday (5 March 2026) afternoon. The police chief urged that this problem be managed promptly and effectively to prevent an ecological disaster.

“If not immediately intervened, the open-dumping method could trigger a methane gas fire disaster, acute environmental pollution, and even paralysis of the city’s governance system, potentially triggering social conflict in the community,” said Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, on Thursday (5 March 2026).

According to data from the Waste Management Master Plan (RIPS), with a population of more than 1.16 million, total waste generation in Pekanbaru in 2025 is projected to reach a staggering 1,378.37 tonnes per day. Of this, hundreds of tonnes end up at the Muara Fajar Final Disposal Site (TPA), which is currently operating at overcapacity.

For years, the waste management method at the site spanning more than a dozen hectares has remained centred on open dumping, which is highly inadequate and carries high risks. Limited heavy equipment, damaged road access, and suboptimal leachate management have worsened the situation.

The dirty and disordered environment can sociologically become an incubator for crime and reduce residents’ productivity. More than a cleanliness issue, the pile of waste is a time bomb.

Therefore, the Muara Fajar TPA is no longer sustainable under the old pattern. What is needed is a transformation of its function, comprehensive governance, and the incorporation of modern technology to resolve this crisis from its roots.

Furthermore, Pandra said that to address the issue, the Riau Police Chief offered waste-to-energy (WTE) management to the Pekanbaru City Government. With WTE technology, waste would be converted into energy for a Biogas-fueled power plant.

“The police chief offered WTE technology to manage waste into energy, which is of course in line with the Green Policing spirit,” he said.