JAKARTA, February 11, 2026 — A growing waste crisis is turning daily life into a stench-filled ordeal for residents of Surakarta, Central Java, as the Putri Cempo landfill overflows and encroaches on nearby homes. The situation highlights a nationwide problem of overwhelmed waste management systems in Indonesia.
Landfill Woes Escalate, Forcing Residents to Flee
A mounting garbage crisis in Indonesia is prompting protests and raising serious health concerns.
- The Putri Cempo landfill in Surakarta is nearing capacity, leading to waste dumping near residential areas.
- Residents are experiencing foul odors and air pollution from both the landfill and its waste-to-energy facility.
- Similar waste emergencies are unfolding in South Tangerang and Bali, signaling a broader national issue.
- The Indonesian government plans to build 34 new waste-to-energy plants, but environmental groups are skeptical.
“The landfill has run out of space, so they are dumping waste near residential areas. Residents no longer know how to cope with the stench coming from the landfill,” said Andri Priyatno, head of a local neighborhood unit, on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.com. The closest dumping point is a mere 20 meters from homes.
The smell is particularly strong in the late afternoon and evening, forcing some residents to temporarily evacuate their homes. Adding to the distress, residents report air pollution from the landfill’s waste-to-energy (WtE) facility. Andri explained that the facility’s chimney is too short, allowing ash to drift into homes, exacerbating environmental conditions. “The pollution is severe. White smoke from the WtE facility enters residents’ homes and turns into very fine ash that settles indoors,” he said.
Residents have repeatedly voiced their concerns to city officials, but their complaints have largely gone unanswered. Frustration boiled over on Sunday when residents blocked garbage trucks from entering the Putri Cempo landfill, prompting a pledge from the Surakarta Environmental Agency to remove waste piles near homes.
Machinery Breakdown Compounds the Issue
The crisis is further complicated by broken-down equipment. Several excavators and a wheel loader used to manage waste at the landfill are currently out of service, severely disrupting dumping operations. As a result, garbage trucks are facing hours-long delays, with queues stretching up to two kilometers on Monday, causing significant traffic congestion.
“It’s been about a week. There’s no space left, and the heavy equipment used to push the waste is broken, so operations are slowed,” said Ade Fajar, a landfill worker. Haryanto, a garbage truck driver, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This has happened before and quite often, but this is the longest queue. Mondays are typically busy, but it’s never been this bad,” according to RRI.
Herwin Tri Nugroho, Head of the Surakarta Environmental Agency, attributed the crisis to the damaged heavy equipment. “We are working to borrow heavy machinery from other agencies in Surakarta and are seeking short-term solutions, including implementing a scheduling system to prevent garbage trucks from piling up at the landfill,” he said.
Approximately 300 tonnes of waste from Surakarta and surrounding cities are dumped at Putri Cempo daily, the city’s sole landfill. A WtE facility was constructed in 2023 to alleviate the burden, but it currently operates at only 15–20 percent capacity due to insufficient household waste sorting, despite being able to process 380–545 tonnes per day. The landfill has been operating over capacity since 2010.
A National Pattern of Waste Emergencies
The situation in Surakarta mirrors broader challenges across Indonesia. In South Tangerang, Banten, authorities declared a “waste emergency” in recent months after tonnes of unmanaged garbage clogged roads, drainage systems, and rivers. The city’s final trash disposal site, Cipeucang, was temporarily shut down on Dec. 10, 2025, by the Environment Ministry due to improper waste processing. Students protested the situation in December, dumping trash bags outside South Tangerang City Hall.
Bali has also faced similar issues following the Environment Ministry’s order for the gradual closure of the Suwung landfill in Denpasar, due to open-dumping practices. Residents have resorted to dumping waste in rivers or burning it at home, leading to widespread pollution.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced on Tuesday that the government plans to develop WtE projects in 34 locations generating at least 1,000 tonnes of waste daily, including Greater Tangerang. Groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled between January and March, with funding facilitated by state asset fund Danantara.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from environmental groups. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) labeled WtE incineration a “false solution,” arguing that it requires extensive waste sorting, substantial budgets, and lengthy construction periods.
What can be done to address Indonesia’s waste crisis? Experts suggest a multi-pronged approach including improved waste sorting infrastructure, increased public awareness campaigns, and investment in sustainable waste management technologies.
