Trip to One of the World’s Largest Landfills
Earlier this year I’ve got a chance to visit Bantargebang waste dump, one of the world’s largest landfills which located in Bekasi, Indonesia. It is also home to over thousands of families, who make a living amongst the garbage, scavenging what they can.
Based on a study in 2019, there are 10 million tons left out of 49 million tons of the Bantargebang waste dump storage capacity. It will be a serious problem if the volume of waste accommodated by the Bantargebang waste dump exceeds its capacity because it won’t be able to receive Jakarta's waste anymore. So, where should Jakarta dispose its waste?
Some of the waste goes into the processing system through a waste-to-energy plant. This project is a form of government commitment in suppressing the high production of plastic waste in Indonesia. In 'Presidential Regulation No. 18 of 2016', it is explained that this power plant was built in order to convert waste into energy sources, improve environmental quality, and increase electricity based on renewable energy. Based on the operational data of the Bantargebang waste-to-energy plant in 2020, it is proven that this power plant is able to reduce waste by up to 80%. In addition, with a capacity of 100 tons/day, the Bantargebang waste-to-energy plant can produce a maximum energy of 700 kWh of electrical energy.
However, the role of the community are still very important. The 3R activities which consist of reuse, reduce, and recycle as well as the circular economy is the solution in upstream reduction of waste. People should be aware that the use of technology such as waste-to-energy plant is not cheap.
What do you think about waste-to-energy plant? Do you think it can significantly solve the environmental problems in Indonesia?
This is a very important environmental issue, especially considering the growing population and increasing amount of waste produced in Jakarta. The limited remaining capacity of the Bantargebang waste dump highlights the urgent need for better waste management, recycling programs, and sustainable disposal solutions. Authorities and communities should work together to reduce waste at its source and promote responsible waste separation. Long-term planning is essential to prevent future waste crises and protect the environment for generations to come. For travelers dealing with transportation arrangements, services such as kilimanjaro airport to Arusha shuttle moshi to jro airport can also make travel planning easier and more organized.
This is a very powerful and eye-opening experience to share. Visiting a place like Bantargebang waste dump can really change the way people think about waste management, poverty, and the environmental impact of everyday consumption. Stories like this remind travelers that New Zealand travel and other journeys are not only about beautiful destinations, but also about understanding the realities and challenges faced by different communities around the world. This kind of responsible travel experience can encourage greater awareness and inspire people to think more carefully about how they manage waste.
not really, if the society does not really know how to segregate and minimise their waste.