Menko Pangan Highlights Stick and Carrot Waste Management

JAKARTA — Menko Pangan highlights stick and carrot waste management as a way to change public behavior, which he said still shows too little concern for the environment. The push for firm penalties and clear rewards is seen as urgent if open dumping is to be fully abandoned across Indonesia.

The stick-and-carrot model requires real consequences on the ground. The “stick” would come through strict law enforcement, including fines and social sanctions for violators, while the “carrot” would offer incentives for residents who sort their waste and hand it over independently.

Rejecting Open Dumping Going Forward

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the old habit of piling waste in landfill sites can no longer continue. Current law now demands a more modern and localized waste management system in every region.

“Because open dumping is no longer allowed. So later, places like Bantar Gebang will no longer be allowed. That means waste must be resolved in each area. If open dumping continues as it does now, there will be penalties, there is a law now. So yes, there must be stick and carrot, we have to force it,” Zulkifli said after attending the Jaga Jakarta Waste Sorting Alert Parade at the National Monument (Monas) grounds in Jakarta.

He warned of serious consequences if the problem is left untreated. Poorly managed waste creates severe air pollution, damages groundwater ecosystems, and produces dangerous microplastics that can contribute to fatal diseases such as cancer in humans.

Incinerators and Future Technology Solutions

The government is preparing several tactical steps to tackle the waste emergency. One of the technologies being readied is an environmentally friendly waste incinerator that is expected to be launched in a number of regions.

The technology will not be limited to large disposal facilities. The government expects the machines to be used in private office buildings, government institutions, and even household settings.

The burning system is expected to reduce daily waste volumes significantly at the source, easing the burden on regional landfills.

Jakarta’s Target: No More Waste Piles

Jakarta’s waste problem remains a massive challenge. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, who also attended the event, outlined the city’s strategic plan to convert waste into clean energy.

The Jakarta provincial government plans to build waste-to-energy plants, or PLTSa, at three critical sites: Bantar Gebang, Tanjungan, and Sunter. The project is based on Presidential Regulation No. 112 of 2022 and Jakarta Governor Instruction No. 5 of 2026.

Jakarta’s daily waste volume is enormous and needs urgent handling, as shown in the data below:

“So, Jakarta’s 9,000 tons of waste per day, hopefully by next year it will already be handled properly,” Pramono Anung said.

The next major target is to begin cleaning up and reducing old waste volume in Bantar Gebang starting in 2029. With piles now reaching the height of a multi-storey building, clearing them is becoming a make-or-break task for protecting Jakarta and its surroundings.