Indonesia's Bantargebang landfill waste pickers fear job loss as dumping rules tighten

Jakarta’s Bantargebang landfill, one of the capital’s largest waste‑dumping sites, is at the center of a government push to tighten open‑dumping regulations and overhaul the nation’s waste‑management system. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry announced new enforcement measures this month aimed at curbing illegal dumping, accelerating waste segregation and expanding formal recycling facilities, in line with Indonesia’s 2019 Waste Management Law.

The policy shift has raised concerns among the estimated 1,200 waste pickers who rely on the landfill for daily income. Many of these informal workers sort through mixed waste to retrieve recyclable materials, a practice that currently contributes up to 30 percent of the country’s recycling output. With the stricter rules, the government plans to phase out open dumping at Bantargebang by the end of 2025, prompting authorities to relocate pickers to designated collection centers and offer vocational training. However, pickers report limited access to the new sites, inadequate compensation and uncertainty about the sustainability of the proposed jobs, fearing that the reforms could erode their livelihoods.

Officials acknowledge the need to balance environmental goals with the socioeconomic role of informal recyclers and have pledged further dialogue with community representatives. The outcome of these negotiations will shape how Jakarta transitions to a more regulated waste system while preserving the income streams of thousands of waste pickers who remain integral to the city’s recycling network.