Indonesia: Landfills Could Collapse by 2028 Without Waste Reform

Indonesia's waste disposal sites could be completely paralyzed by 2028 due to exceeding capacity, warns Muhammad Qodari, Head of the Government Communications Bureau (Bakom RI). He stressed that the country must adopt an integrated waste management system to avert a nationwide crisis. President Prabowo Subianto has highlighted the need for waste management to move beyond conventional disposal methods and become a shared responsibility.

Qodari pointed to Bali as an example of the escalating challenge, particularly at the Suwung Final Processing Site (TPA). This facility handles approximately 1,600 tons of waste daily from Denpasar City and Badung Regency, with over 72 percent still being sent directly to the landfill. To address this, the government, through Danantara Indonesia, is developing the Denpasar Raya Waste Processing and Electricity Generation Facility (PSEL) in Bali, a project grounded in Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025 concerning urban waste management using environmentally friendly waste-to-energy technology.

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If we continue allowing waste to accumulate without integrated management, by 2028 our waste disposal sites will be completely paralyzed because they will exceed their capacity.

The Bali facility, with an investment of Rp 3 trillion, is slated to begin operations by the end of 2027. It is designed to process up to 1,500 tons of waste daily using moving grate incinerator technology. This method reduces waste volume by 80-90 percent while generating electricity. The remaining waste will be managed through a reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) approach starting from the source. Qodari described this initiative as creating a long-term solution to restore people's right to a clean and healthy environment.

This Bali project is intended to serve as a model for similar waste-to-energy facilities planned for 34 other urban agglomeration areas across Indonesia. These future facilities aim to manage waste for approximately 60 to 70 regencies and municipalities. The government anticipates that these projects will yield significant environmental and economic benefits, including reduced waste accumulation, improved public health, and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative represents a crucial step towards sustainable waste management in the archipelago.

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This is not only about building a facility or installing a machine, but about creating a long-term solution to restore people's right to a clean and healthy environment.