Minister of LH reminds that garbage is not a blessing but a problem

Waste illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Environment (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq reminded that garbage is not a blessing but a problem that needs to be addressed, facing the potential increase in garbage during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"We must reflect on ourselves that waste is not a blessing, but a problem. Therefore, all parties must actively participate in reducing waste, sorting, and managing it in ways that are environmentally friendly," said Minister of LH / Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, quoted by Antara.

Based on data from the 2025 Christmas survey from the Transportation Policy Agency, it is projected that 119.5 million people will move during the Christmas and New Year period, or equivalent to 42.01 percent of the total population of Indonesia.

The figure shows an increase of 2.71 percent compared to the previous year. The surge in mobility has the potential to generate an additional 59,000 tons of waste in a period of about two weeks.

He conveyed this after conducting a surprise inspection of the upstream to downstream management of waste at the Tanjungrejo Kudus landfill and the Tegal and Cirebon stations on Friday (26/12) in the momentum of the 2025 Christmas and New Year 2026 holidays.

He emphasized that the increase in waste volume during the year-end holiday was not just a seasonal phenomenon, but a test for the governance system in each region. When reviewing the Tanjungrejo landfill in Kudus, Central Java, he highlighted the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility which had not been operating at its maximum capacity.

Minister Hanif highlighted waste processing technology such as RDF as a future solution that should no longer be delayed in its implementation. Waste management downstream should no longer be just a pile of residues, but must be transformed into a process that has added value and is environmentally friendly.

However, on the other hand, KLH/BPLH also ensures that the enforcement aspect of the law continues to run in parallel with educational efforts. Minister Hanif regretted that the national target of waste management of 52 percent in 2025 has not yet been fully met.

The stagnant condition triggered a firm step from the ministry to give a stern warning to local governments who are still negligent in managing their territory.

This firmness is not without reason, considering that Law Number 18 of 2008 concerning Waste Management has given clear mandates to the central and regional governments.

The sanction is expected to be a driver for regional heads to prioritize budgets and technology in waste management systems in their respective regions.

"This garbage should not become a protracted problem. In the future, we will impose administrative sanctions in the form of government coercion on regions whose waste management is not optimal and is outside the established threshold," said Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.