Indonesia-Germany Address East Java's Waste Through InCircular Project

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya – The Indonesian and German governments have officially partnered with five regencies and cities in East Java to transform waste management systems through the launch of the InCircular Project in Surabaya on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. This cross-border strategic collaboration was established to tackle regional waste generation challenges while accelerating the national circular economy roadmap.

This bilateral initiative is designed as a technical platform to translate the grand vision of sustainable development directly down to the regional level through 2029. Gresik Regency, Malang City, Malang Regency, Probolinggo City, and Sidoarjo have been selected as primary pilot areas to test the effectiveness of end-to-end waste management.

“Local governments play a crucial role in translating national development directions into policies, systems, services, and innovations tailored to regional contexts,” Leonardo A. A. Teguh Sambodo, Deputy for Food, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of National Development Planning stated. He added that the circular economy is not merely about managing waste, but also optimizing resource efficiency and unlocking new economic opportunities.

East Java Vice Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak remarked, “The selection of East Java as a working area for the InCircular Project is a form of trust and a strategic opportunity to strengthen the transformation toward more efficient development”. Through this step, the local government is committed to consistently encouraging the reduction of waste generation directly from the source.

According to data from the National Waste Management Information System, the volume of waste generated in East Java alone reaches approximately 4.34 million tons annually. This significant figure reflects the urgent need to implement Extended Producer Responsibility regulations to strengthen sustainable environmental governance.

“Therefore, we warmly welcome the five cities and regencies that have united their steps today to participate in the InCircular Project as pilot areas,” Director of the Urban Development Cluster at GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN, Thomas Foerch, expressed. He emphasized that this technical support is rooted in a close partnership between Germany and Indonesia that has spanned half a century.

This entire series of cross-sectoral collaborations is expected to transform local environmental issues into long-term, high-value solutions for the wider community. This concrete implementation in East Java simultaneously serves as a beacon for achieving Indonesia's green development targets on the global stage.