JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is stepping up efforts to address the country’s waste problems by ending open dumping and tackling marine litter, according to the Minister of Environment.
“We have already stopped open dumping operations, and currently, almost all districts and cities are increasing their budgets for waste management,” said Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq on Thursday.
His remarks came in response to criticism from American singer and rapper Azealia Banks, who referred to Indonesia as the “world’s rubbish bin.”
Nurofiq cited Balikpapan in East Kalimantan as an example, where the local government has doubled its waste management budget. Gianyar in Bali has taken a similar step.
“We can’t change everything overnight. But what’s important is that if you visit Bali, you’ll see the sea waste has been cleaned up — and if it comes back, we’ll clean it again,” he said.
He added that a dedicated team has been deployed in Bali to manage waste, given its status as a major tourist destination.
Nurofiq acknowledged that fully stopping open dumping at landfills (TPAs) is an ongoing process, particularly at Bantar Gebang, which serves as Jakarta’s main disposal site.
Still, he emphasized that the government is committed to closing 29 landfills practicing open dumping due to the environmental hazards they pose.
“We want around 340 TPAs to stop open dumping within six months. But we will shut down 29 TPAs, as their conditions are dangerous and risk collapse,” he said.
