Indonesia is set to begin transforming its largest landfill, Bantargebang, located on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta, from an open dumping site into a more controlled landfill system starting August 1. This initiative is part of a broader national waste management plan aimed at reducing pollution, improving environmental health, and cutting methane emissions from waste decomposition.

Bantargebang has been operating since 1989 and was initially designed as a sanitary landfill equipped with methane extraction systems. However, since the termination of a private-sector management contract in 2016, the site gradually shifted toward open dumping. Today, the landfill spans approximately 272 acres and rises to about 196 feet, comparable to a 20-story building, receiving around 7,500 tons of waste daily from Jakarta. It has become a significant source of methane emissions, ranking as the world’s second-largest methane emitter among landfills in 2025, according to satellite data analyzed by UCLA’s STOP Methane initiative.

The government’s plan, announced recently, calls for the closure of open dumping operations at 343 of Indonesia’s 550 waste disposal sites. These sites are required to transition to controlled or sanitary landfill systems, focusing on receiving only residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted, such as diapers, dirty paper towels, and stickers. Residents are also encouraged to separate organic waste and recyclables from other trash before collection—a practice largely unfamiliar to many households.

Dudi Gardesi Asikin, head of Jakarta’s Environment Agency, highlighted the policy’s goals to reduce methane emissions, which account for about one-third of global warming worldwide. He noted that many parts of Bantargebang are already being covered with tarps to limit emissions, with full coverage estimated to cost around 200 billion rupiah ($12 million). Methane extraction infrastructure at the site has deteriorated, leaving only two of the original twelve wells operational.

While the reforms address environmental concerns, they also raise challenges for thousands of waste pickers who depend on the landfill for their livelihoods. At Bantargebang, over 4,000 registered waste pickers work daily recovering materials that feed a network of traders and recyclers. Nur Wencih, a 35-year-old who has worked at the landfill for two decades, expressed concern about how the changes might affect her income. Officials acknowledge these concerns and aim to improve working conditions, believing that formal recycling and composting jobs created under the new system will be safer and more sustainable.

Local residents also point to the landfill’s dual impact on the community. Bunin, a neighborhood chief near Bantargebang, remarked that while the site causes pollution, it also generates economic opportunities such as housing rentals and food stalls serving waste pickers.

The urgency of reform is underscored by past incidents, including a landslide in March that killed seven people, highlighting the dangers posed by the landfill’s scale and instability. Agung Pujo Winarko, who oversees the facility, described the situation as reaching or exceeding its carrying capacity.

To support the new waste separation requirements, multiple government bodies, including education and health ministries, are involved in public outreach campaigns. However, many residents remain uncertain about the new system. Rukasih Wanti, a Jakarta resident, said the sorting rules are confusing and add inconvenience.

Environmental advocates stress the need for expanded recycling and composting infrastructure to complement behavioral changes. David Sutasurya, executive director of the environmental group YPBB, noted that up to 80 percent of Jakarta’s waste could be diverted from landfills through composting and recycling if managed effectively.

Meanwhile, some community-driven efforts are demonstrating potential. Monica T. Anggriani, who leads a neighborhood waste bank in West Jakarta, has encouraged residents to separate their waste, processing about one ton of organic material daily through composting and urban farming.

Indonesia faces significant challenges in overhauling its waste management system, but the government and civil society efforts signal a shift toward more sustainable practices to address both environmental and social concerns.