PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Sarimukti Final Processing Site (TPA) is projected to be full by the end of 2026, while the Greater Bandung area still produces around 5,000 tons of waste daily. Representing West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, West Java Provincial Secretary Herman Suryatman emphasized that this situation cannot be ignored. Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government, along with all stakeholders, is working from upstream to downstream to prevent a waste crisis.

"There must be no more garbage explosions in Greater Bandung. Like it or not, we all have to work hard," Herman said after the West Java Provincial DPRD Plenary Session at the West Java DPRD Building on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).

Herman stated that the West Java Provincial Government had anticipated the limited capacity of the Sarimukti Landfill long ago. One of its efforts was optimizing Zone 5 to extend the landfill's operational period.

Regional Secretary Herman admitted that his party, along with several regional apparatuses (OPDs) and experts from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), had conducted a rapid analysis to determine technical steps to increase the capacity.

"We had predicted that Sarimukti would be full by the end of this year. We've already checked the field. Of course, we can't allow that," he said.

Management in Zone 5 will be carried out through engineering, taking into account the area's conditions and safety, including the presence of methane gas. The ITB technical study is expected to form the basis for accountable management so that the Sarimukti Landfill's capacity can be optimized.

"We'll consolidate this until December so its lifespan can be extended. We'll see how many months it will be extended by ITB's analysis," Herman said.

In addition to optimizing Zone 5, the West Java Provincial Government is also preparing to construct gravity walls on both sides of the Sarimukti Landfill, the south and east. This infrastructure is part of an effort to expand the landfill's space and extend Sarimukti's operational life.

In the medium term, the West Java Provincial Government is also preparing to process old waste using pyrolysis technology. The installation is targeted for installation in late 2026 and operational in 2027, with a capacity of processing approximately 1,000 tons of old waste per day into diesel fuel.

According to Herman, the plan is part of a government-facilitated collaboration with the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) and related partners. The West Java Provincial Government is providing support in the form of road access, permits, and other facilities.

"Hopefully, the installation will be installed by the end of this year and operational by 2027. A thousand tons of old waste can be processed into diesel," he said.

In addition to pyrolysis, the West Java Provincial Government is also exploring waste processing into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). However, implementation still requires certainty about off-takers, as well as technical and human resource readiness for optimal facility operation.

Involve students

Herman emphasized that various downstream solutions will not be sufficient if waste at the source continues to increase. Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government is now pushing for changes in waste management patterns, starting at the household, neighborhood, TPS (landfills), sub-district, village, and even district levels.

To strengthen upstream management, the West Java Provincial Government is collaborating with universities. A total of 25,000 students are targeted to go into the field for three months to educate and assist communities in reducing, sorting, utilizing, and processing waste, starting in October.

The program will target households, restaurants, hotels, offices and various community activities in the Greater Bandung area.

Students will receive a conversion of activities into 10 credits and will be provided with modules and digital devices as implementation guides.

"This is a synergy between the local government and universities, students, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). We will also deploy Scouts and all other community elements," Herman said.

It is hoped that the comprehensive waste management mechanism will be able to maintain the operation of the Sarimukti TPA until the end of 2029, before the waste-to-energy processing at the Legok Nangka TPPAS officially becomes fully operational in 2030.