Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Vice Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Diaz Hendropriyono, officially opened the 2nd ASEAN Recycling Summit on August 14, 2025. This event was part of the Indo Waste & Recycling Forum at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, and showcased dozens of exhibitors presenting the latest technologies in waste management and circular economy solutions.
In his remarks, Vice Minister Diaz highlighted the government’s commitment to achieving a 100% waste management target by 2029. He also stressed the critical importance of collaboration from various sectors, including regional governments and the private sector, to realise the ambitious goal set by the President.
As a concrete step, the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) will modify the existing Adipura assessment criteria. According to Vice Minister Diaz, any city that still has illegal dumpsites or practices open-dumping will be excluded from the assessment and given the lowest rank as a ‘dirty city.’
KLH/BPLH has also instructed 306 regional heads to stop open-dumping practices and guide 343 final disposal sites (TPA) toward controlled-landfill or sanitary landfill systems. This initiative is expected to encourage regions to adopt proper waste management technologies, which will also create new business opportunities.
Vice Minister Diaz added that the choice of technology must be tailored to each region’s capacity. He explained that for large cities generating over 1,000 tons of waste per day, Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology can be an effective solution.
Christine Halim, Chairperson of the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI), emphasised the importance of cross-country cooperation at the forum. She noted that the 2nd ASEAN Recycling Summit is not only focused on Indonesia but also serves as a platform to exchange best practices and innovations from across the entire ASEAN region.
The opening ceremony was also attended by various key figures and industry representatives, including Liana Bratasida, Chairperson of the Indonesian Waste Entrepreneurs Association (APSI); Rizal Marizi, Director of the Environmental Development Planning at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas); and representatives from other associations. Through this ASEAN-scale forum and exhibition, it is hoped that the technological innovations presented will accelerate the achievement of national targets and strengthen regional cooperation toward a sustainable circular economy. (*)
