Jakarta Pushes Waste Sorting to Tackle Waste Crisis

The Jakarta government keeps strengthening the waste-sorting-at-source movement through the "Keep Jakarta Clean, Sort Your Waste" (Jaga Jakarta Bersih, Pilah Sampah) declaration. The event was held as part of Jakarta's 499th Anniversary launch at Jalan HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, Sunday (5/10).

To save Jakarta from a waste emergency

The declaration calls on the public to take an active role in collectively addressing the city's waste challenges.

Jakarta Environmental Agency Head, Dudi Gardesi, stated sorting waste from home is the most crucial step in suppressing Jakarta’s daily waste generation, which continues to rise.

Jakarta`s 499th Anniversary and a Waste Sorting Movement Launched

He noted that nearly half of Jakarta's waste is organic, while the remainder has significant recycling potential. The majority of this waste originates from households.

According to Gardesi, if the community adopts the habit of sorting waste at the source, almost all waste can be managed upstream. Consequently, only a minimal amount of residual waste would need further processing at final disposal facilities.

"Through Governor’s Instruction No. 5/2026 on the Movement for Waste Sorting and Processing at the Source, we want to invite the entire community to see that waste sorting is no longer just an option, but a collective necessity to save Jakarta from a waste emergency," he expressed, Monday (5/11).

He explained that Rorotan urban village and several other areas have begun implementing waste-sorting systems and will serve as models to be replicated across various regions in Jakarta.

"This step is vital, considering that the Bantargebang Landfill (TPST) will only accept residual waste starting August 1, 2026, and is targeted to stop receiving waste altogether by 2027," he added.

For reference, the "Keep Jakarta Clean, Sort Your Waste" declaration was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Food, Minister and Deputy Minister of Environment, Governor and Vice Governor, as well as several other high-ranking state officials. Various educational and interactive activations were prepared to integrate a waste-sorting culture into the community.

Residents participated in an inorganic waste "saving" activation, encouraging them to start sorting at home while understanding that waste holds economic value. Several collaborators under the Environmental Large-Scale Social Collaboration (KSBB) Waste Cluster—such as Rekosistem, Plasticpay, Paragon Technology & Innovation, and Rumah Sosial Kutub—also participated in the event.

Besides educational videos on waste sorting, the event featured the official declaration as a symbol of shared commitment from all elements of society to achieve more sustainable waste management in Jakarta.

Further, hundreds of officers campaigned and provided counseling on waste sorting. The Jakarta Environmental Agency deployed 200 janitors along with supporting facilities and infrastructure along Jalan HR Rasuna Said.

The mobilized facilities included three road sweepers, two inorganic waste trucks, two electric compactor trucks, 100 dustbins, three Sulo bins, 1,000 plastic bags, five toilet buses, two wastewater tanks, and two clean water tanks to ensure the event area remained clean, comfortable, and orderly.

"The movement to sort organic, inorganic, household hazardous waste (B3), and residue at the source is a simple step, but its impact is immense for a cleaner and more sustainable future for Jakarta," Gardesi concluded.