Minister of LH: President asks that waste management must start from the upstream

Minister of Environment (LH)/Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Environment (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said President Prabowo Subianto asked that the practice of Final Treatment Place (TPA) with open dumping practices be immediately ended and waste must be handled from upstream.

Met after the clean-up action as part of the Indonesian ASRI Movement (Safe, Healthy, Resik, Beautiful) in Bekasi, West Java, Saturday, February 14, the Minister of LH / Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH) Hanif said the President at the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of the Central and Regional Governments had reminded that many landfills in Indonesia are 17 years old, with the technical nature of the landfill use age ranging from 20 years.

"Yesterday in the Central and Regional Rakornas, the President reminded us all that the TPA will end in 2028. To the regent, mayor, as the main responsible party for waste management based on Law Number 18 of 2008, it is requested to take the necessary steps," said Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, quoted by Antara.

Not only that, he continued, the President has also ordered the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to encourage the use of waste management tools that are appropriate for the demographics in each region.

"The President reminded us that whatever the technology, upstream waste management is the key. So it remains to the upstream that the handling must be carried out," said Minister Hanif.

However, he said, because the emergency waste condition has occurred in all locations in the country, it is necessary to use a quick solution including by using Waste Processing into Electric Energy (PSEL).

In the Bekasi Raya area, it is one of the PSEL development targets along with nine other agglomeration areas. In addition to KLH, it is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to carry out cleaning in various areas.

"The President asked for the cleanliness of the Korve to be carried out directly by the mayor, regent, continuously or at least once a week, said the President. So it will encourage a change in attitude by the community. So of course the Indonesian National Movement ASRI must not be weakened," said Minister of LH Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.