RRI.CO.ID, Pekanbaru - The government is promoting methane capture and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technologies to improve waste management and deliver environmental and social benefits in Riau Province. The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize waste handling and reduce environmental impact.

The Indoneisa's Environment Minister, Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, conveyed the initiative should be accelerated to ensure timely implementation. He noted that plastic waste can be partially reused while the rest can be converted into energy through RDF.

“This is a good initiative, so it can proceed in a short time to become a reality. Then for plastic waste, some can be reused and some can be turned into energy, known as RDF," Jumhur stated in a press statement on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The minister will soon sit together on this matter, including the major task of sorting which has already been carried out in several places.

One of the main focuses is the Muara Fajar II landfill, which currently still applies open dumping practices. The method will be gradually phased out in line with Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2025 on the National Medium-Term Development Plan.

As part of Indonesia’s climate mitigation commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the ministry supports the development of methane capture facilities at the site. The technology is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enabling energy utilization.

The RDF approach is also being promoted as a strategic solution to reduce reliance on landfills. Sorted waste will be processed mechanically into high-calorific RDF pellets for use as an alternative fuel in industry and power generation.

Riau Province generates around 3,818 tons of waste per day, with only about 16 percent managed properly. Around 75 percent of landfills in the province still use open dumping systems, posing environmental risks.

The ministry underscored that waste management requires collective responsibility to improve public well-being. It also reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the Riau provincial government in permanently ending open dumping practices.

Through technical assistance, capacity building, and the adoption of methane capture and RDF technologies, the government aims to establish a modern, circular, and sustainable waste management system.