Indonesia Reports Waste Management Rate of 26% Amid Push to End Open Dumping
Indonesia’s national waste management rate has reached 26%, a significant increase from 2024, according to the Ministry of Environment. The improvement reflects stronger efforts by district and city governments to close open dumping landfill sites and expand waste treatment initiatives. However, the figure remains below the national target set under the country’s development planning framework, prompting the government to accelerate new waste processing facilities and strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping.
Speaking during a working meeting with Commission XII of the House of Representatives on 9 June 2026, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said national data shows daily waste generation reaching 141,926 tonnes. Of that total, around 37,001 tonnes are currently managed. Details of the announcement were reported by ANTARA News.
Local Government Efforts Driving Waste Management Gains
The minister attributed much of the recent progress to stronger actions by local governments to eliminate open dumping practices at landfill sites. Closing such facilities and replacing them with more structured waste handling systems has been a central element of the national strategy.
Most of the waste currently processed still ends up in landfill sites, known locally as Tempat Pemrosesan Akhir (TPA). In addition, approximately 9,450 tonnes per day are handled by the informal sector, which plays an important role in collecting recyclable materials.
The remaining managed waste is processed through composting facilities, 3R waste management sites that focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials, and community-based waste banks. These initiatives reflect broader efforts to integrate sustainability into public service delivery, aligning with national discussions on how smart technologies and innovation can support a more sustainable future.
Waste Recovery and Energy Projects Planned
According to Nurofiq, improving landfill practices and activating additional waste recovery facilities could raise the volume of managed waste to around 44,000 tonnes per day this year. Achieving this would help move the country closer to its medium-term targets.
Under the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), Indonesia aims to reach a waste management rate of 63.4% this year. The ministry expects the current trajectory to deliver at least 57.75% of that target by 2026.
To address the remaining gap, authorities are increasing efforts to eradicate illegal landfill sites, particularly in large urban areas where waste volumes are highest.
Waste-to-Energy Facilities Target High-Volume Cities
A major component of the government’s response is the development of waste-to-energy plants, known as Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Sampah (PSEL). The government plans to establish such facilities in 33 locations across the country.
The initiative follows a directive from President Prabowo Subianto aimed at addressing what officials describe as a waste emergency in areas generating more than 1,000 tonnes of waste per day.
Beyond waste-to-energy plants, the government is also deploying additional treatment technologies such as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and composting systems. These approaches allow regional governments to adopt waste processing methods suited to local conditions while supporting broader sustainability and resilience goals, an approach increasingly discussed in the context of Indonesia’s wider strategy for balancing technological growth with national resilience.
