At an event held as part of National Waste Awareness Action 2025 in South Kalimantan, which was followed online here on Saturday, Nurofiq noted that a shift in paradigm related to waste requires cultural and behavioral changes, which can be achieved through education.
According to the minister, information and education on waste awareness can be provided by integrating waste management learning materials with extracurricular activities and programs at schools and universities.
The role of schools and universities is also deemed essential to reduce waste that needs to be processed at landfills.
"University students, lecturers, students, teachers, and staff, as well as stakeholders in the education sector can reduce their waste, reuse it into recyclables, and manage the waste as close to the source as possible," he said.
All parties in the education sector are also expected to participate actively in environmental action to support waste management efforts in schools and universities.
The minister urged all students to continue to develop waste management technology to reduce waste generation as well as create innovations that do not generate new forms of pollution.
According to the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) of the Ministry of Environment, 32.8 million tons of waste was generated across Indonesia in 2024, based on reports from 303 districts and cities.
Most of it was food waste, which accounted for 39.43 percent of the total.
Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
