Urban waste management is emerging as one of Indonesia’s most pressing environmental and public health challenges in 2026. President Prabowo Subianto has drawn attention to the vast accumulation of trash in major cities and is actively promoting the waste to energy Indonesia project as a strategic solution to both waste disposal and the country’s expanding energy needs. This initiative underscores a shift toward sustainable infrastructure that simultaneously mitigates environmental harm and contributes to national energy security.

Urban areas across Indonesia are producing waste at unprecedented rates. Daily accumulation in several large cities now surpasses thousands of tons, presenting serious logistical, health, and ecological risks if not managed efficiently. Prompted by these concerns, the Indonesian government is now accelerating plans to convert municipal waste into electricity through waste-to-energy plants that are expected to begin operations over the coming years. President Prabowo’s advocacy for the project reflects a broader governmental commitment to innovative approaches for long-standing problems that have eluded effective solutions for decades.

This article explores the background of Indonesia’s waste challenges, the mechanics and potential benefits of the waste to energy Indonesia project, key government strategies, implementation hurdles, and the broader implications for environmental sustainability and national development.

The Urban Waste Crisis in Indonesia

Indonesia’s rapid urbanization has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in municipal solid waste. Cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung now struggle to manage the daily buildup of trash. Diet and lifestyle shifts, population growth, and insufficient waste processing capacity have contributed to persistent waste accumulation at landfills and open dumpsites. Although part of the municipal waste stream passes through formal collection and disposal systems, a substantial portion remains inadequately managed, leading to burning, illegal dumping, and environmental contamination.

President Prabowo highlighted during a national event that waste volumes have reached alarming levels and warned that failure to address the issue could create long-term environmental and social problems. The sheer scale of unprocessed waste not only contributes to pollution but also places pressure on already strained public services. Ultimately, mounting waste is not just a nuisance but a systemic issue that can impact air quality, water systems, and community well-being if left unchecked.

While waste management efforts in Indonesia have included recycling programs and localized cleanup initiatives, these measures alone have not been sufficient given the pace of waste generation. As a result, policymakers have increasingly looked toward multi-pronged solutions that leverage technology, private investment, and regulatory reforms to close the gap between waste production and disposal capacity.

What Is the Waste To Energy Indonesia Project?

The waste to energy Indonesia project refers to a coordinated government effort to establish infrastructure that converts municipal solid waste into electricity. These facilities, known as waste-to-energy plants or PSEL (Pengolahan Sampah menjadi Energi Listrik), use thermal, mechanical, or biological processes to transform waste materials that cannot be recycled into usable electrical power.

President Prabowo announced that 34 waste-to-energy projects will be initiated this year, focusing on various urban centers where waste accumulation exceeds critical thresholds. In practical terms, these facilities will accept collected waste and convert it into electricity through incineration or other energy recovery technologies. Over time, this is expected to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills and generate power that feeds into local grids.

The government’s strategy includes opening tenders for project construction in the near term, collaborating with private investors, and ensuring that the plants will be operational within a horizon of approximately two years. While these timelines are ambitious, they reflect the urgency of addressing waste and energy challenges in parallel.

Potential Benefits of Waste-to-Energy Conversion

Proponents of the waste to energy Indonesia project emphasize multiple economic, environmental, and social benefits that extend beyond mere trash removal.

Reducing Landfill Pressure

One of the most immediate advantages is the reduction in dependency on landfills that are reaching capacity in many regions. Waste-to-energy plants can significantly reduce the volume of solid waste that must be stored in open dumpsites or traditional landfill operations. This helps diminish methane emissions and other harmful by-products associated with anaerobic decomposition in landfills.

Generating Electricity

By transforming waste into energy, Indonesia can tap into an additional source of electricity generation. This is particularly relevant in the context of meeting growing national energy demand. Waste-to-energy plants produce a steady supply of power that can bolster grid capacity and provide electricity to urban and peri-urban areas that may otherwise rely on fossil fuels.

Lowering Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Properly managed waste-to-energy facilities can contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation. While combustion energy recovery emits carbon dioxide, it can prevent methane emissions that are typically generated by unmanaged waste decomposition in landfills. Moreover, when integrated with broader renewable energy strategies, waste-to-energy supports Indonesia’s commitments to climate goals and cleaner urban environments.

Public Health Improvements

Accumulated waste is a vector for pests, airborne toxins, and water contamination. By diverting waste from dumpsites into controlled energy conversion facilities, public health outcomes can improve through reduced exposure to hazardous waste and associated contaminants.

Catalyzing Infrastructure Investment

The deployment of waste-to-energy plants requires capital investment, technology deployment, and skilled labor. The waste to energy Indonesia project catalyzes new investment flows, potentially attracting both domestic and international infrastructure funding while stimulating local job creation in construction, operations, and maintenance sectors.

Government Policies Driving Implementation

The Indonesian government has signaled strong policy support for waste-to-energy initiatives in recent years. In 2025, a presidential regulation was enacted to promote the use of eco-friendly waste-to-energy technologies in urban areas, aiming to address both environmental health concerns and renewable energy production.

Prabowo’s statement that tenders for the 34 waste-to-energy projects will open soon is consistent with this broader regulatory framework. Although the operational maturity of some facilities may take up to two years, these projects are moving from planning and pilot phases toward full-scale execution.

The government is also encouraging collaborations between public and private sectors, including through sovereign wealth fund mechanisms such as Danantara Indonesia, to mobilize capital and expertise. This aligns with broader infrastructure development strategies that emphasize sustainable technologies as key drivers of future economic growth.

Challenges and Implementation Considerations

While the waste to energy Indonesia project presents significant opportunities, several challenges could influence its trajectory.

Technical Complexities

Waste-to-energy plants require sophisticated engineering and rigorous environmental controls. Ensuring that emissions from combustion processes meet health and air quality standards is essential to avoid transferring pollution burdens to local communities.

Financial and Investment Risks

Securing sufficient investment for 34 projects and ensuring their financial viability remains a complex task. The cost of construction, operation, and maintenance of energy conversion facilities can be high, and consistent waste supply logistics must be managed to ensure continuous energy generation.

Community Engagement and Social Acceptance

Local communities may have concerns about odors, emissions, or traffic associated with waste-to-energy plants. Engaging residents early and transparently is critical to building trust and ensuring that projects serve community needs without adverse social impacts.

Regulatory and Governance Frameworks

Strong oversight, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms are necessary to ensure environmental compliance and accountability. Coordination among national, provincial, and municipal governments is crucial to streamline project execution and address cross-jurisdictional challenges.

Conclusion

Indonesia’s push for a waste to energy Indonesia project under President Prabowo’s leadership represents an important step toward sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. By converting waste into electricity, Indonesia aims to reduce landfill pressures, improve urban environments, and contribute to national energy goals.

This integrated approach reflects a growing recognition that environmental and energy challenges are interconnected and require innovative policy solutions. As the waste-to-energy projects progress from planning to implementation, their success will depend on technical robustness, regulatory oversight, community support, and long-term sustainability. With more than 34 facilities being initiated across the archipelago, Indonesia’s waste-to-energy roadmap could serve as a model for other emerging economies grappling with similar urban environmental challenges.