Zulhas: President Prabowo is concerned about the unresolved waste problem

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that the unresolved waste problem is a deep concern for President Prabowo Subianto, as the issue has been longstanding. “The waste problem is a profound concern for the President. Everywhere there is rubbish, the President is worried that if we want to become a great and advanced nation, how can we not even manage waste,” said Zulhas in his speech at the Waste Sorting Movement event, coinciding with the launch of Jakarta’s 499th Anniversary in the Rasuna Said area, Jakarta, on Sunday. According to him, there are already many and diverse technologies for waste management, but implementing them is difficult due to the numerous regulations. He said that over 11 years, only two waste management projects using the latest technology have received permits. Of those two, one could not operate, and the other operates intermittently. Zulhas mentioned that this condition is due to the complicated and lengthy permitting process for establishing waste processing facilities. “We have formulated that there are regulations that are so lengthy; resolving one waste issue takes too long. That is why Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025 was issued to cut down the permitting process,” he stated. Zulhas added that the government is currently addressing waste problems in 71 cities across 22 agglomerations that are in a waste emergency. Even, there are several regions that fall into the waste emergency category, such as in Bantargebang, South Tangerang, Bandung, and several other cities. “The emergencies like in Bantargebang, Bandung, Tangsel, we will resolve by 2028,” said Zulhas.