Waste Sorting Movement Boosts Circular Economy

The Jakarta government has declared the "Waste Sorting and Processing at the Source" movement as a strategic step toward more modern and sustainable urban environmental governance.

This signifies a shift in the approach to waste management in Jakarta

Through Governor’s Instruction Number 5/2026, the Jakarta government is pushing for waste management to begin at the upstream level to ensure that not all waste ends up in landfills.

Urban Policy Observer, Zulfikar Marikar assessed that this declaration serves as a crucial momentum for a paradigm shift in waste management within the capital. According to him, the waste-sorting movement builds a management system that emphasizes waste reduction starting from its source.

Jakarta Pushes Waste Sorting to Tackle Waste Crisis

“This signifies a shift in the approach to waste management in Jakarta,” he expressed, Tuesday (5/12).

He explained that this step is vital because Jakarta’s waste production reaches approximately 8,000 tons per day, with the potential to continue rising alongside population growth, urbanization, and high levels of public consumption.

“The majority of waste consists of household organic waste, while the rate of waste sorting at the source remains low. This condition has caused the burden on the Bantargebang Landfill to increase every year,” he explained.

Through this new policy, Zulfikar added, the Jakarta government is beginning to implement a more integrated waste management system from upstream to downstream. The movement is also deemed a strategic move to reduce the volume of residue sent to Bantargebang.

“Besides reducing urban waste transportation and management costs, this policy also opens opportunities for developing a circular economy through recycling and community-based waste processing,” he explained.

He also appreciated the Jakarta government’s collaboration with the Danantara Investment Management Agency through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the Waste-to-Electrical Energy (PSEL) project. This project is a long-term solution for the capital’s waste management and is targeted for completion by 2028.

Through the PSEL project, waste volume in Jakarta can be significantly suppressed while helping to reduce carbon emissions in urban areas,” he noted.

In the future, Jakarta is projected to have three Waste-to-Energy Power Plants (PLTSa) located in Bantargebang, Kamal Muara, and Sunter. Additionally, Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) facilities are expected to strengthen the modern waste processing system in the capital.

He emphasized that the combination of public education, strengthening waste-sorting regulations at the source, and the development of modern processing infrastructure will serve as an essential foundation for the transformation of Jakarta’s urban environmental governance.

"This policy is in line with Jakarta’s target to become a clean, healthy, and sustainable global city. Waste management is no longer just about city cleanliness, but also concerns the future of the environment and the quality of life for the community,” he concluded.

Previously, the declaration of the waste-sorting movement was held during the Car Free Day (CFD) event on Jalan HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta on Sunday (5/10). The event was attended by the Governor Pramono Anung; Vice Governor Rano Karno; Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan; Environment Minister, Jumhur Hidayat; and several other regional officials.

Governor Pram targets that through the sorting of organic and inorganic waste at the source, as well as the optimization of the Rorotan RDF facility, Jakarta will only send final residue to Bantargebang starting this coming August.