Numbers could be boring, but it is necessary for us to get an overview of today’s waste management condition in Indonesia.
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Waste in Numbers
According to a 2015 study held by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), people in Jakarta, Indonesia, generate 175,000 tons of waste every day.
From all of that waste, only 7,5% is recycled, 5% is burned, 8,5% is unmanaged, 10% is buried, and the rest of 69% is accumulated in the landfill.
That means, there are 120,750 tons of waste piling up on our earth every day in Jakarta, Indonesia, and only 13,125 tons of it are reprocessed into useful items.
Another interesting number, we are crowned as the 1st runner-up in the list of countries with the most marine plastic debris (according to a study by Jenna Jambeck which published in 2015).
Learning From the Best
The waste problem is everyone’s battle to fight. Every single person in this planet–from young to old, rich to poor, novice to expert–needs to contribute in some way in order to make things right.
Seeing how Germans and South Koreans path their way to becoming one of the world’s role models for the best waste management system, we could learn that any kind of brave initiative to promote responsible behavior is important, but a firm support from every part of the community, especially the government, is deadly crucial.
Germany has initialized their waste management law in 1972, and now, they’re the currently leading nation in the recycling sector, succeeded in diverting almost 57% of their waste from the landfill.
South Korea with their Volume-Based Waste Disposal System law that was inaugurated in 1995. This country has proven that with tough determination and full integrity, a country could change how its people act and think about waste in less than a decade.
Their pay-as-you-trash law might sound too harsh for some people, but it turned out to be very effective in reducing waste — particularly food waste.
There are more countries with a great waste management system that we all could learn from. Japanese with their strict garbage collecting schedule which now was also implemented in several places in Hong Kong, China.
The government of India has come up with a new idea to tackle their e-waste problem. Good news also comes from Kenya with their single-use plastic ban.
Government interventions are needed to create some massive changes. And that’s why the Indonesian National Strategy Policy (Jakstranas) on Managing and Reducing Waste which is stated in Indonesian President Regulation No. 97/2017 is something that we all Indonesians ought to support.
What Indonesian President Regulation No. 97/2017 is All About
Indonesian President Regulation No. 97/2017 is a roadmap towards the 2025 Clean-from-Waste Indonesia (Indonesia Bersih Sampah 2025). The Indonesian government is continually establishing and polishing a model plan in order to:
- to reduce the 30% of the country’s waste (from the waste source generation)
- to process and manage for at least 70% of the coutry’s waste in order to avoid it from being accumulated in the landfill
- all are expected to be achieved in the year 2025.
The President Regulation is more like a formal order that needs to be fulfilled and obeyed by every region existed. Every region in Indonesia is expected to create their own model plan (Regional Strategy Policy – Jakstrada) in order to achieve the 2025 Clean-from-Waste Indonesia goals.
The Indonesian government will be monitoring the process of plan establishment and the carrying of it, and the evaluation will be done periodically in order to make the program a success.
There are several Indonesian laws and policies about waste management that have been initialized before, such as DKI Jakarta District Regulation No.3/2013 about waste management from the source, also Indonesian Government Regulation No. 81/2012 about waste segregation and waste management, however, since the President Regulation No. 97/2017 is a National Strategy Policy.
It orders full support from all the existing 32 ministries/institutions of Indonesia–not just the Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry and the rest of the environmental institutions.
Read the full articles of Indonesian President Regulation No. 97/2017 about the National Strategy Policy (Jakstranas) on the Management of Household Waste and Waste Similar to Household Waste here (Indonesian language, source: Hukum Online).
The Path to 2025 Clean-from-Waste Indonesia
Here’s how the program is going so far:
- Indonesian President Regulation No. 97/2017 about the National Strategy Policy (Jakstranas) on The Management of Household Waste and Waste Similar to Household Waste was announced on October 23rd, 2018, by President Joko Widodo.
- The drafting guidelines for the Regional Strategy Policy (Jakstrada) on the Management of Household Waste and Waste Similar to Household Waste (Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry Regulation No. P.10/MENLHK/SETJEN/PLB.0/4/2018) was published on April 21st, 2018.
- The National Coordination Meeting (RAKORNAS) was held by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry (KLHK RI) on May 23rd-24th, 2018 at Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta.
Several programs that are related to the 2025 Clean-from-Waste Indonesia:
- The 2020 Zero-Waste Indonesia program that was announced by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry in 2016. The program was also a starting point for the implementation of paid plastic bags regulation in Indonesia. The 2020 Zero-Waste Indonesia movement is supported by hundreds of communities throughout Indonesia that are connected to each other in their official website.
- Integrated Waste Management Facility for Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Purpose (TPST 3R) is one of the many programs of the Indonesian government that is made to support a better waste management system in Indonesia. TPST 3R facilitates people in densely populated urban areas in Indonesia to carry out a waste management system in accordance with their choices and environmental conditions. Waste4Change has been participating in the training and preparation for TPST 3R, we’re currently involved in the pilot project of TPS 3R for Bandungrejosari – Malang, Jaya Abadi – Jambi, Keboansikep, Sidoarjo, and Rejoagung -Jombang.
What You Can Do to Support 2025 Clean-from-Waste Indonesia
“The definition of (waste) reduction is (mainly based) on behavioral change, the public were asked to change their behavior towards waste. The 2017 (waste) reduction rate is still at 2,12 percent and this is still far from the 30 percent target. It is hoped that the social revolution can lead to a better circular economy that can stimulate a community movement to create Clean-from-Waste Indonesia, “ said Novrizal Tahar, the Director of Waste Management Directorate General of Waste PSLB3 KLKH RI, at the National Coordination Meeting (RAKORNAS) of the President Regulation No. 97/2017.
Remember how South Koreans and Germans are currently enjoying the fruit from their discipline in managing their household waste? Every big achievement starts with some sacrifices in the daily life:
- Separate your waste and separate it well
- Be responsible for your waste. Prepare your energy, time, and resources to ensure that your waste doesn’t end up as a burden to our environment
- Share the good news! Our government has made some interventions to create a better waste management system in Indonesia!
Tell us What You Think
Have some better ideas to improve the waste management system in Indonesia? Planning some great environmental movements? Have some interesting information that you would like to share? We would love to hear what you have to say about it!
Read the article in the Indonesian version here.
