Jakarta Underscores Commitment to Source-Based Waste Reduction

Jakarta's Environmental Agency is prioritizing source-based waste reduction through a complete upstream-to-downstream system restructuring. The commitment was announced during the 1447 Hijri Eid al-Fitr friendship gathering.

This is a moment to overhaul our approach

Jakarta Environmental Agency Head Asep Kuswanto noted that halalbihalal is a time for reflection on discipline and environmental duty, beyond just a social tradition.

"This is a moment to overhaul our approach. Waste is a huge challenge for Jakarta. Management can't just be about hauling and dumping; we must prioritize sorting at the source," he remarked, Friday (3/27).

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He stressed that community-based waste sorting and reduction should be the main focus. He instructed the Environmental Agency to maintain a seamless management system from upstream to downstream.

Additionally, he tasked neighborhood waste assistants with strengthening public education to turn waste reduction into a daily routine.

"Further, waste collectors must be vigilant to ensure that already-sorted waste does not get mixed again," he noted.

Asep stated that during the transportation process, there should be no more mixing of waste all the way to the processing facilities. The same rule applies to temporary disposal sites (TPS), where incoming waste must remain segregated and managed according to its category.

"This includes Water Body Waste Management personnel, who are required to perform sorting and processing at the UPSBA facilities," he explained.

He stressed that operations at the Bantargebang Landfill must strictly follow established Norms, Standards, Procedures, and Criteria (NSPK) and optimize integrated processing.

Aside that, he tasked sub-agencies and district units with optimizing local facilities like waste banks, composting, and BSF maggot bioconversion. This is vital for managing waste at its source rather than letting it all flow to Bantargebang.

"The spirit of Eid—honesty, sincerity, and responsibility—should be evident in our performance. Our actions directly affect the environment and community safety," he stated.