Indonesia pushes waste-to-energy policy and plastic‑exchange pilot

Indonesia is entering a new phase of waste management by adopting President Regulation No. 109 of 2025, which directs urban waste to be processed into renewable electricity. The regulation responds to a daily generation of roughly 141,926 tons of waste, of which only about 26 % is properly handled, and seeks to curb open‑dumping and methane emissions while generating economic value from residual material.

In Central Java’s Banyumas regency, authorities have launched a pilot scheme that trades sorted plastic waste for staple foods, vouchers and household items. The program, coordinated with local waste‑bank partners and a consortium that includes GIZ Indonesia, Landscape Alliance, the KEHATI foundation, SNV Indonesia, Bappenas and the regional planning agency BAPPERIDA, aims to curb plastic pollution in the Serayu River basin and encourage household‑level recycling.