Global Attention on Environmental and Waste Issues

Environmental and waste-related issues are attracting global attention. Indonesia also faces numerous ongoing challenges in this regard. For example, as a maritime nation, the environmental impact of marine plastic waste in Indonesia is severe. A contributing factor is the lack of public knowledge and awareness about proper waste disposal practices.

So, how do ordinary Indonesian households actually handle their waste? This article explores the current situation, associated problems, and recent related news.

Waste Management in Indonesian Households by the Numbers

57.2% of Households Burn Their Waste

According to a 2023 survey conducted by the Ministry of Health of Indonesia, 57.2% of general households responded that their “primary method of waste disposal” was “burning it themselves.” The second most common method was “handing it over to collection workers,” followed by “disposing of it at temporary local storage facilities.”

While there are areas where waste collection services operate, they are mostly handled by private entities rather than by governmental services. Typically, waste is not separated at the point of collection; instead, collectors sort and sell recyclable materials afterward.

Below is the ranking of the top nine primary waste disposal methods used by households in 2023:

Primary Household Waste Disposal Methods (2023)

1. Burning it themselves (57.2%)
2. Handing it over to collection workers (27.6%)
3. Disposing at a temporary local storage facility (8.7%)
4. Disposing into rivers or drainage channels (2.8%)
5. Disposing haphazardly (2.3%)
6. Burying it themselves (0.7%)
7. Composting (0.3%)
8. Sending to a waste bank (0.3%)
9. Recycling (0.1%)

Source: Databoks, “57% Rumah Tangga Indonesia Rutin Bakar Sampah”

Issues Surrounding Household Waste Management in Indonesia

There are many challenges when it comes to waste management in Indonesia. On an individual level, the habit of “placing trash in bins” is still not ingrained among many people, and littering remains a common issue. Litter not only degrades the environment and landscape but also contributes to frequent flooding.

Furthermore, many areas lack a household waste collection system. Systems for separated collection and environmentally sound disposal methods are not yet widespread. The widespread practice of burning waste at home due to lack of alternatives leads to air pollution, and the resulting smoke and odor negatively impact local living environments.

In recent years, separate waste bins have become more common in commercial facilities, parks, and apartment complexes. However, many people still do not understand how to separate waste properly, and these bins are not always used appropriately. Additionally, even when residents separate their waste properly, it is often recombined by collectors who follow conventional practices.

Consequently, recyclable waste ends up being sent to landfills along with general waste, exacerbating the problem of limited landfill capacity.

For more on Indonesia’s waste output and issues related to landfill overcapacity, please refer to the following articles.

Visual Coverage of Household Waste Issues in Indonesia

Environmental Activists Return Plastic Containers in Protest

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In June 2024, environmental activists and the environmental NGO Greenpeace conducted a protest against Unilever Indonesia.

The packaging of detergents and shampoos used by many households is not environmentally friendly, which has a significant impact on Indonesia’s environment. As a form of protest, environmental activists “returned” about 50 kg of plastic packaging from Unilever products, demanding more environmentally responsible packaging.

Unilever offers some of the most popular products in Indonesia, such as Rinso laundry detergent, Molto fabric softener, Lifebuoy body wash and shampoo, as well as globally recognized brands like Lux and Dove.

Rinso uses the slogan “Berani Kotor Itu Baik” (“It’s Good to Get Dirty”). During the protest, this was adapted into “Berani Tanggung Jawab Itu Baik” (“It’s Good to Take Responsibility”).

Source: Infobangkaid, “Bentuk Protes, Greenpeace Kembalikan Sampah Unilever”

Environmental NGOs × Content Creators: “Pandawara Group”

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Pandawara is a group of five young people actively addressing environmental issues. They clean up bridges, rivers, and coastlines, sharing their activities on social media.

The featured video shows the group organizing a cleanup at Labuan Haji Beach in eastern Lombok Island, together with 3,100 participants. Their rallying cry, “Indonesia Bebas Sampah” (“A Trash-Free Indonesia”), is particularly striking.

Pandawara has 9.036 million followers on TikTok and 2.007 million on Instagram as of July 2024. They are also popular content creators who have visited Japan and posted videos about learning waste management practices there. The shift in awareness among youth can largely be attributed to the influence of peers like these creators.

Waste Issues in Indonesia Begin at Home

The video showcases a beach covered in trash along a beautiful blue sea—an all-too-common sight in Indonesia.

Littering and illegal dumping of household waste in nearby areas continues unabated, contributing to the pollution of rivers and oceans. As a maritime nation, Indonesia faces a severe problem with marine plastics, which impacts both living conditions and the tourism industry.

Amid these challenges, numerous companies engage in environmental protection activities as part of their CSR efforts or manufacture products using recycled materials. However, there are also persistent difficulties, such as startups involved in collecting recyclable household waste shutting down one after another.

It is essential to watch both government policies and movements within the private sector.