Blitar, East Java – Waste management remains a significant challenge for Blitar Regency, where residents generate approximately 500 tons of garbage daily—equivalent to 0.3 kg per person among its 1.3 million population. However, only 50 tons (10%) reach the official landfill (TPA), leaving the fate of the remaining 90% uncertain.
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| Source: suarajatimpost |
Key Data:
- Daily Waste Production: 500 tons
- Landfill Capacity: 50 tons (10%)
- Unaccounted Waste: 450 tons (90%)
Achmad Cholik, Head of Blitar’s Environment Agency (DLH), expressed concerns over unregulated waste handling by communities. "The rest is managed by residents, but we don’t know how—whether it complies with rules or not," he admitted on Tuesday (22/4/2025).
Pending Solutions:
1. Regulatory Hurdle:
- DLH awaits approval of a provincial waste management draft regulation (Ranperda) by the East Java government.
- The Ranperda outlines decentralized waste handling from village to regency levels, including mandates for:
- Waste banks (bank sampah)
- Standardized temporary disposal sites (TPS) in villages
2. Current Shortfalls:
- Some villages have initiated independent waste programs, but implementation remains uneven.
- Illegal dumping persists in forests, rivers, and public spaces due to lax enforcement.
Call for Collective Action:
Cholik emphasized public participation: "Habits like proper waste sorting and disposal must become the norm." DLH plans mass socialization once the Perda is enacted, targeting:
- Household-Level Sorting
- Expansion of Waste Banks
- Crackdown on Illegal Dumping
Broader Implications:
With 450 tons of daily waste unmonitored, Blitar’s environmental and health risks loom large. The delayed Perda approval underscores systemic gaps in Indonesia’s waste governance, where local agencies often lack authority without higher-tier policies.