During a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday, he noted that, according to Law Number 23 of 2014 on Regional Governments, waste management is a mandatory responsibility but is not categorized as a basic service.
"So, because of this classification, for the past decade, waste management has not been a priority for local governments. Yet, waste is our shared responsibility. Therefore, it should be recognized as a basic service," he explained.
He emphasized that, since every individual generates waste, it is directly relevant to basic services.
"We are currently discussing this with the Coordinating Minister (of Food), and it will be part of our proposal to the Minister of Home Affairs so that waste management is recognized as a mandatory basic service," he said.
By including waste management as a basic service, he noted, regional government budgets could prioritize funding for it.
He suggested that around 3 percent of the regional budget should be allocated to improving waste management.
This proposed change is essential, considering that national waste generation reached 56.63 million tons in 2023, mostly in urban areas, with only 39 percent properly managed.
At least 343 final landfills still practice open dumping, which negatively impacts the surrounding environment because of the accumulation of unsorted and unmanaged waste.
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Translator: Prisca, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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