West Java Deploys 25,000 Students, Targets Greater Bandung Waste to Reduce by 1,000 Tons a Day

BANDUNG, GARISBUMI.com – The West Java Provincial Government has prepared 25,000 students to assist the community in reducing and sorting waste in Greater Bandung. This three-month program starting in October 2026 targets reducing waste from its source by 20 percent or around 1,000 tons per day.

West Java Regional Secretary Herman Suryatman said the government had consolidated with universities and sub-district heads to prepare to implement the program in around 52 sub-districts.

"The target is to reduce waste from the source by 20 percent. If this target is achieved, of the around 5,000 tons of waste produced in Greater Bandung every day, around 1,000 tons can be suppressed before reaching the Sarimukti TPA," said Herman at the West Java DPRD Building, Bandung City, Tuesday (6/10/2026).

Students will provide education and direct assistance to the community in waste management. They are provided with modules and digital tools as a guide, with activities that will be converted into 10 semester credit units (SKS).

Expand Trials of Arcamanik

Herman explained that the program was a development of a trial in Arcamanik District, Bandung City. Previous activities involved around 500 students for three months.

According to Herman, the evaluation results show that this assistance can reduce waste generation by around 20 percent and increase sorting by up to two times. These results are the basis for expanding the program to the Greater Bandung area.

Assistance is directed at encouraging residents to reduce waste production, sort it from the source, and utilize materials that still have useful value.

"No matter how great the technology is, the key is still human capital, human resources. Behavioral matters are not like turning the palm of your hand, but they have to be done," he said.

Segregated Waste is the Key to Processing

In addition to strengthening community assistance, the West Java Provincial Government is encouraging the optimization of waste processing facilities that are already available in districts and cities in Greater Bandung.

These facilities include waste processing sites using the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling (TPS 3R), processing fuel from waste or refuse-derived fuel (RDF), composting, and maggot cultivation.

Utilization will be adjusted to the characteristics of the waste and the conditions of each region.

Herman assesses that a number of facilities are not working optimally because the incoming waste is still mixed. He gave the example of maggot cultivation which requires segregated organic waste. The mixture of plastic and other materials means that these facilities cannot be utilized optimally.

Therefore, technology development needs to go hand in hand with behavior change through education and mentoring.

Reduce Sarimukti Landfill Burden

Herman hopes that handling from source to final processing can help extend the operational period of the Sarimukti TPA until December 2029. This effort is being carried out while waiting for the waste processing facility to become electrical energy at the Legok Nangka TPPAS, which is targeted to be fully operational in 2030.

"The Governor's hope is that Sarimukti can be operational until December 2029. We are working on upstream, midstream and downstream," he said.

According to Herman, the Greater Bandung waste problem requires the involvement of the community and various parties. Handling is not enough to move waste from one place to another.

"We cannot continue to carry out transportation without comprehensive treatment. It's time for the community and all components to participate," he stressed.

He invited residents to start reducing and sorting waste in their daily lives. This participation is expected to help reduce processing costs while preventing a waste crisis in Greater Bandung.