Indonesia advances waste‑banking and public‑transport subsidy reforms for social and environmental gains

A partnership between J&T Cargo, Decathlon Foundation Indonesia, the Yayasan KDM and community waste‑bank networks has collected and processed about 8.2 tonnes of retail waste in Jakarta. The program, running from March to May 2026, channels the material through waste banks, preventing landfill disposal and cutting an estimated 40 tonnes of CO₂‑equivalent emissions. The recovered waste supports social initiatives such as education for vulnerable children, basic‑needs provision and community empowerment.

The Indonesian transport lobby, Masyarakat Transportasi Indonesia (MTI), is urging the government to redirect fuel subsidies toward public‑transport development. Subsidy spending on fuel has fluctuated, reaching IDR 210.1 trillion for 2026. While 93 % of subsidised fuel is used by private vehicle owners, only about 3 % benefits passenger public transport. MTI notes that only 45 of 514 regional governments have begun modern public‑transport services, highlighting Balikpapan and Manado as the few locales still reliant on national budget support. The lobby argues that reallocating subsidies would improve mobility, reduce living costs and support environmental and spatial planning goals ahead of Indonesia’s 2045 vision.