During a podcast with ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday, he explained that when the assessment of waste governance began last year, his ministry divided regions into two categories.
Those scoring above 60 points were considered to have a solid understanding of waste management, while those scoring below that mark were declared to be in a state of waste emergency.
"At the start of 2025, almost all regions were in a state of waste emergency. Today, 35 districts and cities have escaped that status," Nurofiq said.
However, he noted that around 400 other districts and cities across Indonesia still hold the waste emergency status. This includes regions whose waste management has come under scrutiny, such as South Tangerang and Bali.
The waste accumulation in South Tangerang is considered unique, as the city sits within a megapolitan area with a diverse population, requiring a specialized management approach.
To address the issue, the Ministry of Environment and the local government are spearheading several efforts, including promoting independent waste management to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
The ministry is also conducting outreach with the local government to enhance waste management efforts and shut down landfills that still utilize open dumping, a practice where waste is simply piled up without any further processing.
On that occasion, Minister Nurofiq also stated that Indonesia's waste management rate reached 24.95 percent as of January 2026, a significant increase from the 10 percent recorded in early 2025.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
