Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Management Agency (KLH/BPLH) reaffirmed their commitment to achieving an ambitious national target of a Zero Waste Indonesia by 2029 during the 2025 National Coordination Meeting on Waste Management (Rakornas), held at the Jakarta International Convention Center. The event convened over 1,000 stakeholders from across the country.
Carrying the theme “Towards 100% Waste Management”, the forum served as a strategic consolidation point to strengthen integrated waste systems built on the principles of a circular economy.
In his keynote address, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq emphasized that this national forum is not merely a space for dialogue but a call to immediate and measurable action.
“If we do not act today, we are not leaving behind solutions, but worsening ecological crises,” said Minister Hanif.
According to the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), Indonesia generated 56.63 million tons of waste in 2023, yet only about 39% was managed using environmentally sound methods.
The rest ended up in open dumping landfills (TPA), continuing to contaminate air, soil, and water.
This urgent situation has prompted national efforts to halt open dumping practices at 343 landfills, with close monitoring already in place. As part of the corrective measures, the government is accelerating the development of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities, known locally as PLTSA, in 33 priority cities.
These plants are expected to support Indonesia’s transition to clean energy and reinforce the country’s low-carbon energy mix.
The meeting also marked a transformation in the Adipura Award, a national recognition for urban cleanliness. The new standard focuses on systemic waste management over superficial urban aesthetics.
Cities lacking proper waste separation systems or still operating open landfills are now automatically disqualified from the award.
In addition to cross-sector discussions, Rakornas 2025 featured technology exhibitions, business matching sessions, and the launch of new initiatives to strengthen collaboration with the recycling industry and green economic players, including RDF off-takers, ADUPI, and organic waste-based enterprises like maggot farming.
Deputy for Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Management Ade Palguna emphasized the necessity for local governments to develop systematic waste management roadmaps, coupled with the enforcement of administrative sanctions for non-compliance.
These steps are crucial to ensure program consistency from central to regional levels.
Aligned with the 2025 World Environment Day theme “Ending Plastic Pollution”, the government highlighted that 20% of Indonesia’s waste is still plastic, with recycling rates stagnating at 22%.
This reflects an urgent need for greater investment in recycling infrastructure and public education.
The event concluded with a unified national pledge to make 2029 the milestone year for achieving Zero Waste to Landfill, where no waste ends up in open dumps and all waste is managed under the 3R principles — reduce, reuse, recycle. (*)
