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| Prabowo Pushes Waste to Energy Projects as Indonesia Fights Growing Trash Crisis. |
Indonesia is stepping up its game in tackling one of its biggest urban headaches: trash. President Prabowo Subianto has officially instructed the government to sharpen research and fast-track real solutions that directly impact people’s daily lives—starting with household and environmental waste.
Speaking after a coordination meeting at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) in Jakarta, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the President wants innovation that doesn’t just stay on paper, but actually works on the ground.
“The President’s direction is clear—research must focus on solutions that can quickly help solve real community problems, especially waste management,” Prasetyo said.
According to him, Indonesia already has several research-based technologies capable of handling waste, from small household systems to village-level solutions. The challenge now is turning those innovations into real action that people can see and feel.
The government views the waste problem in layers. On a micro level, it starts with household trash, neighborhood waste, and village management. On a macro level, cities face massive waste volumes that require more advanced and large-scale solutions.
To address this, the government is preparing 34 waste-to-energy projects across the country. These projects aim to reduce landfill overload while turning trash into electric power, helping support national energy needs at the same time.
President Prabowo emphasized that waste-to-energy is no longer optional, especially as trash piles in major cities have reached alarming levels. If ignored, the situation could trigger serious environmental disasters and public health risks.
Through these projects, waste will no longer be seen as just a problem—but as a valuable energy resource.
Prasetyo explained that the projects will be built in 34 districts producing more than 1,000 tons of waste per day, requiring industrial-scale technology rather than small community systems.
“When the waste volume is that high, the equipment and technology must be on a completely different level,” he said.
That’s why the government is prioritizing adaptive technology, including properly scaled incinerators. However, technology alone won’t solve the issue.
Public awareness plays a major role. Educating communities about waste sorting at the source is considered essential for making waste-to-energy projects truly effective.
“Building facilities isn’t enough. Education is just as important if we want this program to succeed,” Prasetyo stressed.
With the combination of smart technology and stronger public participation, the government hopes Indonesia can finally turn its waste crisis into a sustainable energy opportunity—cleaner cities, safer environments, and power that benefits everyone.