The collapse of a massive pile of waste at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) has once again highlighted the fragility of Indonesia’s waste management system. The incident, which claimed seven lives on March 8, demonstrates that waste is no longer merely an environmental issue but also a matter of human safety.
The large-scale accumulation of waste in landfills carries significant risks if not managed through an adequate system. This situation has prompted many stakeholders to renew calls for a fundamental shift in how urban waste is managed.
Responding to the incident, Professor of the Chemical Engineering Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and environmental observer Professor Wiratni, said that the root of the problem lies in how waste management is perceived. According to her, current practices are still oriented toward disposal rather than processing. As a result, waste continues to accumulate in landfills without sufficient reduction efforts. Ideally, waste management systems should prioritize waste reduction at the source and proper treatment downstream.
“The root of the problem is that waste management is still viewed as disposal rather than processing,” she said on Thursday (Mar. 12).
Professor Wiratni further explained that landfill practices still have a role in modern waste management systems. However, landfills should serve only as the final stage after various waste processing methods have been implemented. Processing can begin with waste sorting at the source, composting for organic waste, and thermal treatment for inorganic materials. Under such a system, only a small portion of residual waste should ultimately end up in landfills.
“In an ideal waste management system, landfills are still necessary, but only as the final stage in the waste processing chain,” she explained.
According to the professor specializing in bioprocess engineering, practices at many landfills across Indonesia remain far from proper management standards. Waste is often piled up without adherence to safe landfill design principles. In fact, proper landfill management requires careful regulation of slope gradients, limits on pile height, and an effective leachate management system. Without such measures, the risks of landslides and environmental contamination increase significantly.
“What often happens in Indonesia is that landfills are used simply to pile up waste without observing the appropriate standards,” she said.
Professor Wiratni also expressed concern that many people still perceive waste management primarily as a technological issue. In reality, she noted, the problem is closely related to public behavior in the generation and management of waste. Therefore, social and humanities approaches play an important role in developing effective solutions. Each region has distinct socioeconomic conditions, so technological solutions must be adapted to local contexts.
“Waste problems persist because public behavior has not yet changed,” she stressed.
She added that waste-processing technologies are often difficult to implement due to insufficient social engineering support. Without behavioral change and appropriate management systems, available technologies cannot produce meaningful results. This explains why many waste treatment technologies have not been successfully implemented in various regions. According to Professor Wiratni, integrating technology with social engineering is essential for successful waste management.
Professor Wiratni emphasized that universities have an important role in preventing similar disasters in the future by serving as testing grounds for innovative solutions. Campuses can function as living laboratories that integrate technological development with social approaches. The results of these experiments can later serve as policy recommendations for the government. She believes this approach will produce solutions that are more contextual and easier to implement.
“For example, UGM has developed a community-based waste management model at the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT),” she explained.
Located in Berbah, Sleman, PIAT processes around 8 to 10 tons of waste generated from the campus and surrounding residential areas. The system established at the facility integrates waste treatment with social approaches to encourage behavioral change among the community. According to Professor Wiratni, micro-scale initiatives like this can reduce reliance on large landfills.
“At PIAT, we have built a waste processing ecosystem integrated with various uses for the resulting products,” she said.
As part of this system development, UGM has built an integrated waste management ecosystem on campus. Internet of Things (IoT)-based weighing technology is used to monitor waste generation and map the behavior of campus residents in producing it. Processed products such as compost, maggots, and building materials are then connected to other innovations across the campus to gain practical value. According to Professor Wiratni, this approach serves as a learning platform for communities in developing more sustainable waste management systems.
“Overall, what UGM is building is not merely waste processing technology but a circular economy ecosystem that showcases contributions from various fields of expertise at the university,” she concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photo: Antara and UGM Public Relations Documentation