Minister urges regions to end open dumping to curb landfill fires

hartono · Apr 13, 2026

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Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq delivers his remarks at the signing of a cooperation pact on the waste-to-energy plan construction in North Sulawesi, at the office of the Ministry of Environment in Jakarta on Monday (April 13, 2026). ANTARA/Prisca Triferna

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq urged regional governments to immediately end open dumping practices in landfills and shift to a controlled landfill system to avoid landfill fires during the dry season.

He said specifically in North Sulawesi, only four out of 15 districts have ended open dumping practices and transitioned to a controlled landfill system.

"I urge district heads and mayors that by August, open dumping practices must be ended," he stressed after witnessing the signing of a cooperation pact on the waste-to-energy plant construction in North Sulawesi, here on Monday.

He explained that controlled or sanitary landfill practices—where waste is compacted and covered with layers of soil—are designed not only to prevent the spread of contamination but also to suppress methane gas generated by the decomposition of organic waste mixed with other materials.

Furthermore, he warned that the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts a prolonged dry season this year, with a potential El Niño phenomenon.

“As a result, the peak of the dry season will shift from August to October. This will consequently cause a high risk of landfills catching fire due to the massive accumulation of methane gas,” he remarked.

In this regard, Nurofiq affirmed that he had coordinated with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the National Police (Polri) regarding potential criminal and civil legal action against regional governments that have yet to end open dumping after the deadline.

According to data from the Ministry of Environment, daily waste generation in Indonesia stands at 141,926 tons, with 37,001 tons currently being managed.

Of the managed amount, the majority—15,189 tons per day—is sent to landfills, while 9,450 tons are handled by parties in the informal sector. The remainder is processed through composting facilities, 3R (Reuse Reduce Recycle) waste treatment sites, and waste banks.