inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) is pushing for the strengthening of waste management regulations to support the acceleration of national waste management.

He stated that this strengthening is necessary so that all parties can play an active role in sustainable waste management.

"There must be stronger penalties, there must be penalties, so people will be more willing (to comply with the regulations)," said Zulhas on Tuesday (3/31/2026).

This statement came amid bigger attention to national waste management, following the landslide incident at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) in Bekasi, which resulted in fatalities.

Waste management has a legal basis under Law Number 18 of 2008 concerning Waste Management, which regulates obligations, prohibitions, and sanctions for violators.

The law emphasizes that waste management must be carried out properly from upstream to downstream, involving the government, the community, and the business world.

He explained that the government, through the Ministry of Environment, will take firmer steps to enforce waste management regulations.

According to Zulhas, this authority encompasses administrative action and law enforcement against violators. 

"The Minister of the Environment has the authority to seal off containers and prosecute them. There must be (strengthened) penalties and punishments," he said.

He explained that waste management is a shared responsibility between the government, the public, and businesses.

"Responsibility for this waste is not solely the government's responsibility; we are all responsible," said Zulhas.

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