West Java Provincial Government Prepares Mitigation Steps to Face Waste Crisis and Prolonged Drought
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi led a coordination meeting regarding waste management and the mitigation of prolonged drought impacts in West Java for 2026. The meeting, held at the Indonesian Army Headquarters (Mabes AD) on Thursday (4/6/2026), was attended by the Army Chief of Staff, General Maruli Simanjuntak, and the Head of BMKG, Teuku Faisal Fathani, alongside regents and mayors from 27 districts and cities across West Java.
The Governor highlighted two critical issues facing the population. First, the threat of waste accumulation due to the Sarimukti landfill reaching maximum capacity within the next six months. Second, the arrival of a prolonged dry season caused by the extreme El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to impact West Java significantly.
‘We must anticipate the impacts of this prolonged drought, including water shortages and even fires. According to BMKG, the peak of the dry season in West Java will occur in August and September. I am requesting input and information from regents and mayors to map out our response,’ stated the Governor.
Regarding mitigation, the Governor emphasised that preventative measures must be taken immediately. He called for the identification of areas facing water scarcity to ensure daily and agricultural needs are met. Proposed actions include mobilising water via tankers in collaboration with the TNI and bottled water enterprises, as well as accelerating the construction of clean water networks and storage tanks in drought-prone villages.
On waste management, the Governor expressed support for the TNI’s plan to develop waste-to-fuel processing using pyrolysis technology, which converts plastic waste into fuel. This is particularly urgent for Bandung, Cimahi, and West Bandung, as they face the loss of disposal capacity at Sarimukti. Similar efforts are needed for the Cirebon, Bogor, and Tasikmalaya regions, focusing on both short-term household waste reduction and long-term technological solutions like waste-to-energy.
General Maruli Simanjuntak commended the Governor’s proactive approach. He noted that the TNI has already established at least 500 clean water distribution points and is prepared to expand waste-to-fuel facilities to locations such as Bantar Gebang, Sumur Batu, Galuga, and Sarimukti. He added that waste-to-fuel technology is ready to process approximately 10 million tonnes of waste at Sarimukti. Furthermore, an incinerator with a capacity of 800 tonnes per day began operating in Ciwastra, Bandung, in May.
BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani confirmed that the dry season is arriving earlier and will be more intense due to El Niño. He noted that the dry season is already being felt in the northern coastal areas (Pantura) of West Java and is expected to spread across the province from July to October, peaking in August and September.