Environment Ministry: NDC Target Difficult to Achieve Without Waste Sorting

Achieving Indonesia's target for reducing emissions from the waste sector, as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), hinges critically on effective waste sorting at the source. Without this fundamental step, even advanced waste processing facilities may fail to operate at their full potential.

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What is done upstream, like sorting, may seem trivial, but its impact is significant, including on our NDC achievement.

Diaz Hendropriyono, the Vice Minister of Environment and Forestry, emphasized the need for an integrated approach to waste management, covering both upstream and downstream processes. He warned that facilities like Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plants are at risk of underperforming if source separation is not prioritized. "What is done upstream, like sorting, may seem trivial, but its impact is significant, including on our NDC achievement," Diaz stated during a Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change.

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For the waste sector, the responsible party is the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and there is a target to reduce 40 million tons from the waste sector, this is done through various methods from upstream to downstream.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is responsible for the waste sector's emission reduction target, which aims to cut emissions by 40 million tons. To meet this goal, the ministry is strengthening composting practices and promoting waste sorting from households. Organic waste that is separated can be processed into compost or used as feed for maggots.

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First, we do it through composting and sorting. In the Rorotan area, there is an RDF Plant, and we are starting to implement a sorting program in North Jakarta. After sorting, it can be made into a slurry that will be taken to maggot farmers.

Furthermore, the ministry is encouraging waste management practices in Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) and People's Schools to reduce waste generation and support emission control. For large-scale waste processing, the government is developing technological facilities such as WTE and RDF, which are projected to handle between 1,000 to 2,500 tons of waste daily. However, Diaz reiterated that the success of these modern facilities ultimately depends on the quality of waste sorting at the source.

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For SPPG and People's Schools, we promote composting there to improve composting methods.