Waste4Change: Closure of "open dumping" landfills drives circular economy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Waste management company Waste4Change believes that law enforcement in the form of closing open dumping final disposal sites (TPA) and government initiatives for Waste-to-Electricity Management (PSEL) will drive modern waste management that enhances Indonesia’s circular economy. “We generate waste daily (equivalent to) 12 Borobudur Temples. In a year, that’s 4,800 Borobudur Temples. Where do we put it? The problem today is that our behaviour and system only move it around. We move it to TPA. Mountains of rubbish. Or if not to TPA, it goes into rivers, into the sea, and so on, and that harms us too,” said Waste4Change CEO Mohamad Bijaksana Junerosano in Jakarta on Thursday. Sano stated that his company appreciates the government’s steps to close open dumping TPAs. He said this can create urgency and a need for modern waste management. He mentioned that some people deal with waste by burning it haphazardly. According to him, this is also dangerous because the smoke from burning is carcinogenic or causes cancer. Therefore, he said, the current priority is to ensure adequate infrastructure for waste management, such as integrated waste processing sites (TPST), and to build a culture of sorting waste. In addition, according to Sano, it is time for the government to intensify PSEL, although it will still take 2-3 more years to fully operate. Sorting waste, he said, is also important for the PSEL initiative. Incinerators will be more effective and efficient in burning dry waste compared to wet waste. Previously, Environment Minister (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq reminded local governments that open dumping final processing sites (TPA) or open dumping must be ended at the latest in July 2026. “In 2026, we will end all open dumping activities. We are giving time to regents/mayors with governor oversight to resolve open dumping TPAs at the latest in July 2026,” he said in Jakarta on Friday (16/4).