He noted that President Prabowo had urged government institutions nationwide to intensify efforts to manage waste and ensure sustained action under the national movement Indonesia ASRI, which stands for safe, healthy, clean, and beautiful (aman, sehat, bersih, indah).
The minister underscored the directive after mobilizing more than 4,000 personnel to address the ongoing waste crisis in South Tangerang City, Banten, on Wednesday (Feb. 4), according to a statement cited in Jakarta on Thursday.
Referring to Law No. 18 of 2008, which empowers regional leaders to manage waste, Nurofiq reiterated the need for collaboration among stakeholders across sectors to help Indonesia overcome its waste challenges.
"Education and guidance must be accompanied by stronger legal enforcement. In other words, it is equally important to impose sanctions on business units and residential areas deemed capable of managing their waste independently," he said, pointing to alleged negligence within the private sector.
He then spotlighted South Tangerang, noting that the city produces 1,029 tonnes of waste daily, with 41.54 percent remaining outside proper and effective management.
The minister described the situation as an emergency that demands strong synergy between central and local governments, as well as the private sector, to achieve the national target of comprehensive waste management by 2029.
He added that the Ministry of Environment has prioritized tackling waste at its sources and strengthening infrastructure capacity across regions to support the Indonesia ASRI movement in pursuit of the national target.
The government, he continued, views the movement not as a ceremonial agenda but as a concrete effort to build public awareness of the urgency of discipline in waste handling.
Nurofiq also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stricter law enforcement and continuous monitoring to ensure clean and sustainable living environments nationwide, particularly in urban areas.
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Translator: Prisca T, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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