Jakarta — The Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) and the Jakarta Provincial Government on Sunday, May 10, have launched a citywide push to require residents to separate waste at the source, marking a shift toward systemic waste management reform in the capital.
The policy is formalised under Governor Instruction No. 5 of 2026, which mandates all households in Jakarta to sort their waste. The regulation took effect on May 10 and was announced as part of a series of activities marking Jakarta’s 499th anniversary, which will culminate on June 22.
Environment Minister Moh. Jumhur Hidayat said the central government fully supports the initiative and expects it to evolve into a массов public movement. “This must not only be a government programme, but a movement by Jakarta’s residents. Waste should no longer be seen as an enemy, but as something of value,” he said.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the campaign, branded “Jaga Jakarta Bersih, Pilah Sampah” or “Keep Jakarta Clean, Sort Your Waste”, will be implemented comprehensively across communities, from neighbourhood units to households.
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan noted that household waste remains the biggest challenge in Indonesia’s waste management system, underscoring the importance of behaviour change. He expressed hope that the initiative would serve as a model for other regions.
The ministry has been supporting Jakarta’s waste management transformation since late 2024. A first-phase roadmap submitted in February 2025 included pilot projects at sub-district and community levels, which have now been scaled up citywide. Authorities expect the movement to not only reduce waste volumes in Jakarta but also contribute to the national target of achieving 100% waste management by 2029.
The waste separation push also comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Treatment Site following a deadly garbage avalanche on March 8, 2026. Heavy rainfall triggered the collapse of massive waste piles at the landfill in Bekasi, killing at least seven people, including garbage truck drivers, scavengers, and food stall workers near the site.
The incident highlighted mounting concerns over the safety and sustainability of Jakarta’s heavy reliance on Bantar Gebang, one of the world’s largest landfill sites, which receives most of Greater Jakarta’s daily waste. Authorities said the tragedy underscored the urgency of reducing waste volumes through household-level sorting and broader reforms in waste management. (nsh)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
