The Minister of Environment/Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, stated that the government plans to end waste imports into Indonesia. This plan is one of the solutions to address the overcapacity of landfills in several regions. 

 

In 2022, Indonesia was one of the largest importers of plastic waste globally, with a total capacity reaching 194,000 tons. 

 

"We are also evaluating these waste imports; it seems we must end them soon," said Hanif during the Handover Ceremony for the Minister of Environment in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 10. 

 

Hanif explained that the plan aims to resolve landfill issues in several regions. Some landfills in these areas need accelerated management to prevent them from exceeding their capacities. 

 

He targets that within 100 days of taking office as Minister of Environment, at least three landfills will have their waste management issues resolved. 

 

"At least three landfills will be resolved. I will make adjustments, but one of them is the Banjarbakula landfill in my region," he added. 

 

Aiming for Investment in Waste Recycling 

 

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is targeting an investment absorption in the environmental and forestry sectors of IDR 19.9 trillion by 2025. The Minister of Environment and Forestry from the 2014-2019 period, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, said that the investment absorption would include efforts to improve the environment from both water and waste pollution. 

 

"This includes investment in wastewater treatment and waste recycling, amounting to IDR 2.2 trillion," said Siti during a Hearing Meeting with the Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday, earlier on September 9. 

 

Siti also mentioned that the investment target could create up to 400,000 jobs. 

Original article here

This article is published in partnership with Katadata