Ministries push for collaboration on tech-based waste management

 The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and the Ministry of Environment are pushing for joint efforts among central authorities, local governments, and private sectors in implementing technology-based waste management.

"Waste management must be driven by a more efficient and sustainable approach, with the participation of the private sector to ensure the system has economic value and can sustain itself," Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said in a statement

Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Hendropriyono also emphasized the urgency of accelerating waste management particularly in dense urban areas.

"Waste accumulation is extremely high while processing capacity remains very limited," he said regarding the challenges faced by Indonesian cities.

He noted that the government needs to accelerate waste sorting at the source to ease the burden on downstream facilities.

The Ministry of Environment has presented a mapping of Temporary Waste Disposal Sites (TPS) locations that can be developed into Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) TPS or Integrated Waste Processing Sites (TPST).

Based on the joint mapping effort between the ministry and local governments, hundreds of TPS locations have been identified with potential for development, although most still require capacity and functionality improvements.

Authorities also highlighted the importance of optimizing the waste management chain from source level sorting to the recycling ecosystem.

This approach aims at reducing the processing burden at primary facilities while increasing the economic value of generated waste.

Several pilot project initiatives are currently underway including organic waste management through partnerships with local businesses and communities, which have the potential for wider replication.

As directed by President Prabowo Subianto, the government is accelerating the development and testing of micro scale waste processing technology.

The plan was originally conveyed during a meeting regarding national waste management held at the State Palace in early February.

Going forward, the government will continue to strengthen cross sector collaboration to generate concrete solutions for urban waste.

The ministry will also encourage the involvement of universities in creating innovations that support a sustainable circular economy.