Enviro News Asia, Bekasi – A landslide of a 50-meter-high waste mound at Zone IV of the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) on Sunday (8 March) at 14:30 claimed four lives, highlighting what authorities describe as a systemic failure in waste management in Jakarta.
Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency of Indonesia (KLH/BPLH), stated that the tragedy should serve as a serious warning for the Jakarta Provincial Government to immediately stop the open dumping method that continues to endanger both residents and workers.
Following the incident, KLH/BPLH has launched a comprehensive investigation and initiated strict law enforcement measures to address the long-standing waste management problems in the Indonesian capital.
Minister Hanif described Bantar Gebang as the “tip of the iceberg” of Jakarta’s waste management crisis. The landfill has accumulated approximately 80 million tons of waste over 37 years, reaching critical levels. The continued use of the open dumping method is considered inconsistent with the provisions of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management, as the system is no longer capable of reducing safety risks for nearby communities.
“This incident should never have happened if waste management had been carried out in accordance with regulations. Bantar Gebang must become a lesson for all of us to immediately improve our system for the sake of human safety and environmental protection,” Hanif said while inspecting the site.
The landfill has a history of fatal incidents, including a landslide that struck nearby settlements in 2003 and the collapse of Zone III in 2006, which buried dozens of waste pickers. Similar risks resurfaced in January 2026 when a collapsed platform dragged three garbage trucks into a nearby river, followed by the latest landslide in March.
Authorities say these recurring incidents indicate severe overload pressure at the landfill.
Given the repeated nature of the disaster and its threat to human life, Minister Hanif emphasized that those responsible could face legal consequences under Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management. The law provides criminal penalties ranging from five to ten years of imprisonment and fines between IDR 5 billion and IDR 10 billion for negligence leading to loss of life.
Prior to the disaster, KLH/BPLH had already issued warnings regarding the high-risk conditions at the landfill. On March 2, 2026, the ministry’s Environmental Law Enforcement Deputy issued a Notice of Commencement of Investigation (SPDP) for several waste management sites considered hazardous, including Bantar Gebang.
The government is currently prioritizing the evacuation of victims while conducting a full investigation into the incident.
As part of a long-term solution, the Bantar Gebang site is planned to be designated specifically for inorganic waste, supported by improved waste segregation at the source and optimization of the Rorotan Refuse Derived Fuel Facility. Authorities are also strengthening cross-institutional cooperation to ensure that Jakarta’s waste processing capacity reaches 8,000 tons per day safely and in accordance with environmental regulations. (*)
