KLH Issues Circular to Face Potential 59 Thousand Tons of Christmas-New Year Waste

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has issued a circular to reduce the potential increase in waste of around 59 thousand tons during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, including local governments to optimize waste management facilities.

In Circular Letter Number 13 of 2025 concerning the Control of Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 Waste, the Minister of Environment (LH)/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq highlighted the projection of the movement of 119.5 million people or 42.01 percent of the Indonesian population during the Christmas and New Year holidays is closely related to the potential increase in waste generation.

"The number of people traveling has the potential to increase the amount of garbage by around 59,000 tons from various activities in public spaces within the two-week period of the celebration," said Minister Hanif as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, December 19.

"The potential for increased waste generation occurs when in various activities they use goods and packaging that are disposable and difficult to manage waste," he added.

Hanif highlighted the need for waste management control during the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations at a number of points including places of worship, celebration venues, tourist attractions, land travel, and other strategic places.

In the circular, the governors, regents, and mayors are urged to facilitate and oversee waste handling during the Christmas and New Year holidays at points that are the center of crowds in their respective regions.

In addition, business actors and the community are asked to use decorations and attributes that minimize waste in the implementation of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations by avoiding the use of disposable plastic and using reusable materials.

To maintain the condition of minimal waste and anticipate a surge in the amount of waste generated, it is necessary to provide segregated waste storage facilities, especially for food waste, plastic packaging waste and waste that cannot be used (residues) at places of worship, tourist attractions, rest points and carry out transportation and processing of waste that is adjusted to the type and amount of waste generated.

Not only that, it is also urged to establish a special tent in the form of a waste shelter station that is specifically for food waste and plastic packaging waste and to provide appeals and invitations to use reusable eating and drinking utensils.

The local government is also asked to assign field units of the Regional Device Organization (OPD) responsible for environmental affairs, for waste that has been collected, sorted, and transported in cooperation with related parties.

They are also asked to provide facilities and infrastructure such as separate garbage bins and separate garbage collection tools at the location of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations, as well as carrying out the collection and transportation of garbage.

The local government is also asked to provide a special task force in the field that handles garbage as well as educates.

KLH/BPLH also asked the local government to report the steps of waste management activities and recording waste data managed during the period.