Indonesia targets 33,000-ton daily waste reduction through WtE push

 The Indonesian government is aiming to reduce waste by 33,000 tons per day by 2029 through the construction of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants.

"The WtE project is targeted to reduce waste by approximately 33,000 tons per day by 2029, or equivalent to 22.48 percent of the total national waste generation," Chief of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Muhammad Qodari stated during a press conference in Jakarta 

The government is currently accelerating the development of these plants to improve the public quality of life and to address the ongoing waste management crisis.

Total waste generated across Indonesia has reached approximately 140,000 tons per day. Meanwhile, landfill capacities remain limited, as do processing rates achieved through reduce-reuse-recycle (3R) initiatives.

Qodari explained that through the use of thermal technology, such as incineration, WtE plants can reduce waste significantly while simultaneously generating electricity.

According to him, the WtE plants—whose construction is currently focused on regions with over 1,000 tons of daily waste generation—are expected to improve the public's quality of life and encourage a shift in waste management behavior.

In addition, he continued, the initiative is also expected to bolster the role of local governments in supporting the transition toward a circular economy, as well as sustainable and low-carbon development.

He added that the WtE plants have the potential to generate an average of 25 megawatts (MW) of electricity for every 1,000 tons of waste processed daily.

"The WtE project also offers significant economic benefits, including investment, job creation, and increased economic activity in the surrounding areas," he said.

He stated that the presence of these plants will also drive technology transfer, accompanied by the enhancement of human resource capacity in waste management.

The Indonesian government aims to develop WtE plants in 30 locations and agglomerations involving 61 districts and cities.

The waste input capacity is targeted to exceed 1,000 tons per day per site, bringing the total processing capacity of the WtE plants to 33,000 tons per day.

For the first phase, groundbreakings are targeted for June 2026 across five locations: Bekasi City, Yogyakarta City, Greater Bogor, Greater Denpasar, and Greater Bandung.