Indonesia faces significant challenges in waste management, with national waste generation reaching 64 million tons per year, including 12% plastic waste. Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has proposed the industrialization of waste management to transform waste into economically valuable resources. This initiative includes developing waste processing facilities with environmentally friendly technology, modern methods like sanitary landfills, and collaborations with the private sector. The government is also encouraging the establishment of recycling plants, particularly for plastic waste, and raising public awareness through campaigns promoting waste separation at the source. Technologies like refuse-derived fuel (RDF) are being used to convert waste into alternative fuel for industries such as cement, fertilizer, and textiles.
According to the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), in 2023, approximately 60.4% of waste was managed, while 39.6% remained unprocessed. Efforts to industrialize waste management in Indonesia have shown results, although challenges persist, such as the lack of proper household waste disposal facilities in villages and the continued practice of burning waste. The government is also reviewing the potential ban on waste imports to optimize domestic waste management. This transformation is expected not only to reduce environmental impact but also to create new economic opportunities, supporting Indonesia’s vision of a cleaner and more sustainable future.