Govt Urges Landfill Wetting to Prevent Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda - The Indonesian government is urging local authorities to regularly wet waste at landfills to prevent fires amid extreme heat and the El Niño phenomenon.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Deputy Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Diaz Hendropriyono, said treated wastewater from existing wastewater treatment facilities at landfills could be used periodically to wet accumulated waste.

“I see that this landfill already has a wastewater treatment facility, and it is being properly managed. So, we need to find a way to use the treated water as a source for regularly wetting the landfill,” Diaz said during his visit to the Sambutan Landfill in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The measure is part of the implementation of Environment Minister Circular Letter Number 11 of 2026 on Enhancing Preparedness and Preventing Landfill Fires During Extreme Heat. The policy calls on local governments to strengthen preparedness and anticipate the risk of fires at landfill sites.

Diaz said El Niño and global warming could increase the risk of fires, including in areas where waste has accumulated. Local governments are therefore urged to keep accumulated waste wet to reduce the risk of fires.

“El Niño and global warming are currently making fires more likely to occur. Through the Environment Minister’s circular, local governments are instructed to wet accumulated waste at landfills,” he explained.

In addition to fire prevention, Diaz called on local authorities to prioritize the safety of waste pickers by ensuring they do not operate in active zones or on high piles of waste. The Sambutan Landfill currently has two zones, with the first zone already closed and the second beginning operations in July 2026 under a controlled landfill system.

The Sambutan Landfill has also allocated 10 hectares of land for a planned waste-to-energy facility, known as PSEL in Indonesia. The facility is expected to process less than 1,000 tons of waste per day once the necessary regulatory framework is in place.