Waste Management in Indonesia

[Shadrach]

Interesting to see that pollution of waterways and lakes in England and Wales has now become a serious issue as Lough Neagh, the UK's largest freshwater lake, has experienced a harmful algal bloom of unprecedented duration, extent, and magnitude in recent years.

Do you know of there has been any unusual weather patterns during this time period? Such as unusually hot, dry, rainy, or any reports of sewage runoff in the Lake?

 

[harryopal1]

There is a special report to become available on Monday which covers studies conducted throughout the realm. Recent data showed serious pollution incidents involving water companies rose by 60% in 2024 compared with the previous year. Steve Reed, the environment secretary has said, said: “Pollution from sewage, agriculture and vehicles is poisoning our rivers. We are cracking down on sewage pollution from water companies, but we need to tackle all sources of pollution, including from farming. That’s the only way to clean up our country’s rivers, lakes and seas.”

 

[harryopal1]

There is a special report to become available on Monday which covers studies conducted throughout the realm. Recent data showed serious pollution incidents involving water companies rose by 60% in 2024 compared with the previous year. Steve Reed, the environment secretary has said, said: “Pollution from sewage, agriculture and vehicles is poisoning our rivers. We are cracking down on sewage pollution from water companies, but we need to tackle all sources of pollution, including from farming. That’s the only way to clean up our country’s rivers, lakes and seas.”

 

[Shadrach]

There is a special report to become available on Monday which covers studies conducted throughout the realm. Recent data showed serious pollution incidents involving water companies rose by 60% in 2024 compared with the previous year. Steve Reed, the environment secretary has said, said: “Pollution from sewage, agriculture and vehicles is poisoning our rivers. We are cracking down on sewage pollution from water companies, but we need to tackle all sources of pollution, including from farming. That’s the only way to clean up our country’s rivers, lakes and seas.”

This a result of overpopulation, and having to resort to Factory Farming to produce enough food for the Masses. And I'm not sure, but Maybe a Major Factor in this problem is using Petrochemical Fertilizers as the source for Nutrients! I wonder of this would be such a problem if Organic Fertilizers were used instead? These Factory Farms are also having a problem with Salmonella, and other food borne bacteria, getting into the food supply and causing mass sickness outbreaks, then mass recalls of Food! I've seen video's where the water running through canals through Mega Cattle Farms, then down to the Mega Vegetable Farms! Thus contaminating the Vegetables! It would be Great if somehow these Mega Farms could be Organic and Safely managed to Prevent these Mass algae Bloom's and Mass food contaminations!

 

[Hawk256]

These Factory Farms are also having a problem with Salmonella, and other food borne bacteria, getting into the food supply and causing mass sickness outbreaks, then mass recalls of Food! I'

The US has had more mass recalls of food products in the past year than in the last 10 combined it seems. It has been insane.

 

[harryopal1]

70 days and with the algal bloom in Yorke Peninsular South Australia there is nothing but dead fish. Local fishermen say it's like a "horror movie" and feel it is the end. Six local oyster leases have closed. The spin off effects all the regional businesses as tourism has completely fallen away.

An algal bloom has also been decimating sea and bird life at the famous Coorong national park where the Murray River exits. The area has been a major habitat for pelicans and migratory birds.

There are now warnings about the likelihood of a similar development along the Perth coastline in Western Australia.

 

[pantaiema]

"Bali Governor's Circular Letter Number 9 of 2025, which prohibits the production and distribution of bottled drinking water (AMDK) in volumes of less than 1 liter, is considered to be in conflict with higher legal regulations."

I said before (post #54), if you leave a plastic bottle in plain sight on the street, someone from an economically disadvantaged background will likely pick it up as they could easily sell it. I have provided a lot of evidence about this.
https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/the-harsh-reality-of-being-homeless-in-jakarta.8099/ Post #1

https://www.expatindo.org/community/threads/waste-management-in-indonesia.7755/page-3 Post #56

Rather than deflecting the issue to mineral water manufacture, this 'rollerKoster' should have provided the sorting point that will actual help the urban scavengers looking for plastic bottles, metal can, glass bottle to increase their incomes. Also to reduce the issues regarding H&S from scavenging in the pile up of mixed rubbish. But what he did is to shift the blame to Mineral water manufactured by banning bottled drinking water (AMDK) in volumes of less than 1 liter. Providing sorting point will need to come from his local budget, which might be that he and his officials have spent it for their personal uses. He also still needs to explain where the Rp150k tourist levy he has been collecting since Feb 2024 has actually gone.

People who have seen various cases around the world could actually see that very few (if any) other developed countries ever ban bottled drinking water (AMDK) in volumes of less than 1 liter. This is certainly for obvious and rational reason.

 

[Balifrog]

People who have seen various cases around the world could actually see that very few (if any) other developed countries ever ban bottled drinking water (AMDK) in volumes of less than 1 liter. This is certainly for obvious and rational reason.

What is it anyway with tourist all hauling a bottle of water with them everywhere ?
Same as in the Army, how did they survive 50 / 70 years ago ?
This brings us back to the problem of mini packaging. In developing countries, and in Africa, people can ill afford to "invest" in 1kg washing powder or a jar of instant coffee.
So the manufacturers will provide it in 50 or 100 gr packaging.
The problem is that per unit the ratio plastic packaging vs product is disastrous.
10 * 100 gr packaging is worse than 1* 1 kg packaging.
Concerning PET bottles vs recyclable glass bottles all the industry (Coca Cola first) have killed all tentatives to switch to glass bottles as economically throw away PET bottle are cheaper.
And don't tell me they recycle old PET bottles to make new ones. Again economically non viable.
Plenty docs on Y.T. on this subject.

 

[pantaiema]

Do not worry about garbage problem in Indonesia. This minister Zulkifli Hasan will sort it out in two years. It is not a typo he said in two years ....

"President Prabowo asked me, 'Are we just going to let this garbage pile up? As a major nation, it is embarrassing. At Bantargebang, our garbage is as tall as a 20-floor building. How will we solve this?' I told him, 'Sir, give me a Presidential Decree, and I will solve it in two years,'" Hasan stated.

Indonesia commits to solve waste problem by 2027

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan affirmed the government's commitment to resolving Indonesia’s mounting waste problem within ...

en.antaranews.com

He might be just solving the garbage problem in Bantargebang alone and he will later claim “promise made, promise delivered”. But in this case, anyone with proper resources and ministerial power wouldn’t need two years to address it just a few hours could be enough.

This guy Zulkifli Hasan seems to be one of the most useless ministers in the current administration. His appointment appears to be based not on merit or expertise, but rather his influential role in the National Mandate Party (PAN), which was instrumental in backing Prabowo's ascent to power. Many of Prabowo’s ministerial choices seem to reflect political payback rather than competence, as part of the deals made to secure support. Also do not forget the current cabinet has the highest number of ministers in Indonesia's history.

Just remember during his previous ministerial appointment, Zulkifli faced a mass demonstration that disrupt the airport over a restrictive policy on personal items brought in by travelers from abroad. I have posted the news about this on another thread. Despite the backlash, and the regulation he issued that is not carefully considered was eventually withdrawn (the sign of acknowledgement that he make a blunder). However he faced no consequences on the contrary, he was eventually promoted as coordinating minister.

 

[harryopal1]

It seems with the never ending slough of waste, plastic, toxic chemicals and general pollution we are set on destroying the planet. A disconcerting report today that shows how this trend associated with sea warming is being found around the globe.

As South Australia deals with its algal bloom, California is dealing with another

As South Australia deals with its unprecedented algal bloom, a bloom of a different kind has been decimating California's coastline for four years, killing whales, dolphins and causing sea lions to behave aggressively on beaches. Warning: This story contains content that some readers may find...

www.abc.net.au

 

[Balifrog]

Not everything is lost, look at China....
From "The new China playbook - beyond socialism and capitalism"

But at the base, there need to be strict enforcement of the law. Like in SGP....

 

[harryopal1]

I often used to have tea at cheap Chinese cafes in Singapore. Tea was served in chipped cups and always slopped into the saucer. They had spitting pots. A lot of hawking and spitting. When the new anti spitting rules were introduced, young people doing national service would police the streets to stop spitting and the then popular western habit of chewing gum and then spitting that onto the foothpaths to stick to the soles of shoes and become blackish ugly spots over the footpaths.

 

[Balifrog]

Still wild to see that 57% of Indonesian households still burn their waste. Thats officially classified as improper handling by the Ministry of Health, same category as dumping into rivers or drains

Burning is better than throwing in the river when there is no garbage collection.
That's how the Miss does when in the village.

 

[Shadrach]

I was taught Two Wrongs don't make a right. Actually Burning plastic releases very toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, which is Deadly to living beings. If the People separated the Organic material from the Non Organic material, it would reduce the Rubbish by a substantial amount. With all the Organic material, it could be made into compost piles to use in the Gardens to enrich the soil, to grow beautiful flowers, and food!

 

[pantaiema]

Still wild to see that 57% of Indonesian households still burn their waste. Thats officially classified as improper handling by the Ministry of Health, same category as dumping into rivers or drains

To burn household garbage, people would need to do it near their homes. This directly affects their own and their family’s health, so they may choose to burn waste more selectively and with greater caution.

By contrast, dumping waste into a river has little immediate impact on them aside from transportation costs. Also not every household has access to a nearby river.

If you go to a remote village, you’ll see how people deal with their garbage. Most of the time, they just dig a pit in the backyard, throw all their household waste in there, and once it’s full, they burn it, cover it with dirt, and then dig a new one. In the absent of regularly serviced garbage collection point, this will be a better alternative for villagers then dumping it into the river.

I know many people do not like when their neighbor burn their garbage in front of their houses, dumping by the road side, river they pass everyday. I also do not like it .

But really, what else are they supposed to do if there’s no garbage truck or waste facility around? Whose job is it anyway to provide proper trash collection and processing? In the city, few people might burn their rubbish to avoid paying fees. But keep in mind, there are also some people forced to do that because the banjar won’t collect their trash as they haven’t paid certain “donations” (basically an excuse for illegal fees), like the Ogoh-Ogoh fund, which often has a minimum set at around Rp1 million. The people will stop burning their garbage and/or dump it into the river if the other alternatives are cheaper and could save their time. Also remember for some local people paying Rp100k a month might be a lot of money. If the local government could provide regularly serviced collection point where people could dump their household garbage for free, these people will stop dumping their garbage into the river or burn it in front of your house.

From earlier posts, the main problem is the lack of waste processing facilities and collection points. Some local governments have already acknowledged this issue. Even the world’s top environmental experts would struggle to solve it without expanding waste processing capacity. The only person who might be able to achieve this within two years is Minister Zulkifli Hasan (see post #109). However, he is widely regarded as unreliable, often making false or misleading statements. Typically, when local governments are embarrassed by media exposure such as when trash piles up in markets, rivers, or along roads, they simply redirect resources and services from other areas to address the highlighted problem, leaving the rest neglected.

 

[Bob]

Burning is better than throwing in the river when there is no garbage collection.
That's how the Miss does when in the village.

It is, although burning plastic is very bad for anyone who inhales the smoke though.

 

[Balifrog]

It is, although burning plastic is very bad for anyone who inhales the smoke though.

Plastic is set apart, collected and probably "recycled".
Shredded to small particules.

 

[Shadrach]

Or possibly sold to that village that uses it for the fuel to make their Tofu. What I want to know is, Why are the Plastic manufacturers not being held responsible for taking back the Plastic? They are making Billions of Dollars selling! Why are they not being forced into using organic biodegradable oils instead of Petroleum?
Also it would be better for the environment to compost the biodegradable materials instead of burning them. Compost becomes a rich soil that benefits the ground much more than the results of burning the same materials.

 

[Bob]

Plastic is set apart, collected and probably "recycled".
Shredded to small particules.

That's good. I've seen it burned with other trash too.

 

[harryopal1]

That's good. I've seen it burned with other trash too.

Recycling is not really the answer as after two or three recycles the polymer chain grows shorter, so its quality is reduced and it can no longer be used. As for small and smaller particles or nano particles they are now everywhere including in the flesh of the oceans fish and the blood of humans. No wonder the churches are preaching Amageddon as it seems everywhere you turn there are catastrophic outcomes. Mind you churches have been preaching for centuries that Amageddon is imminent. The present worldwide problems certainly make relgious demands for donations much more pressing.