Indonesia's Landfill Crisis: Uncovering the Systemic Causes of Waste Management Failures

The crisis in Indonesia's waste management is a symptom of a larger problem of environmental degradation and neglect of public health.

The Indonesian government must adopt a community-led approach to waste management, strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms, and promote sustainable waste management practices. This requires a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between waste management, public health, and environmental degradation, as well as the perspectives of marginalized communities. The concept of 'gotong-royong' (mutual aid) could be applied to waste management, where communities come together to maintain public spaces and prevent environmental degradation. The historical displacement of indigenous communities in Indonesia is deeply connected to the country's colonial past and ongoing struggles for land rights. The crisis in Indonesia's waste management is not new, dating back to the colonial era when European powers imposed their own systems of waste disposal on the country. This legacy of colonialism continues to shape Indonesia's environmental policies today.