Indonesia’s Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has emphasized the critical role households play in addressing the country’s waste emergency and supporting a shift towards a circular economy. The Minister’s statement came following an inspection of waste management practices in Ciamis District, West Java, on February 1.
Ciamis District Leads the Way
Ciamis District is currently ranked highest in the 2026 Adipura Award assessment due to its consistent community-based waste management efforts. Data from the district indicates that households generate the largest portion of waste – 49 percent – with food waste making up 38 percent of the total.
Minister Nurofiq stated that intervention at the household level is “no longer optional but essential” to alleviate pressure on waste disposal sites. Reducing organic waste specifically could significantly improve the overall efficiency of national waste management.
Focus on Market Waste and Technology
The Ministry also observed waste management at Ciamis Market, noting the use of waste segregation, maggot-based processing, and composting. Collaboration between local governments and traders in reducing waste is now considered a key national performance indicator.
Ciamis District’s success is attributed to its strengths in policy, budgeting, human resources, and public participation – all key parameters for the Adipura Award. Minister Nurofiq also highlighted the need for upgrades to technologies used to process low-value waste to ensure all residual waste is effectively managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Adipura Award?
The Adipura Award is an annual environmental award given to cities and districts in Indonesia that demonstrate excellence in environmental management, including waste management.
What percentage of waste in Ciamis District is food waste?
Technical data shows that food waste makes up 38 percent of the total waste generated in Ciamis District.
What methods are being used to process organic waste in Ciamis Market?
Ciamis Market is utilizing waste segregation, maggot-based methods, and composting to process organic waste.
Moving forward, it is possible that other districts and cities may seek to emulate Ciamis’s model for community-based waste management. Further investment in waste processing technologies could also be a possible next step, as could increased public awareness campaigns to encourage household participation. It remains to be seen if these efforts will be sufficient to address the national waste emergency.
