Jakarta. The Jakarta administration is seeking to improve its waste management system by learning from Denmark’s advanced practices, as mounting garbage problems continue to affect parts of the capital.

The issue recently resurfaced after large accumulations of waste were reported in the waters off Muara Angke Port in North Jakarta, disrupting fishing activities and marine transportation.

Floating garbage and wooden debris have frequently become entangled in boat propellers, hampering fishermen's operations and slowing vessel movements in the area.

Responding to the issue, Deputy Governor Rano Karno said the city government would accelerate efforts to improve waste sorting at the household level.

"Perhaps starting this June, we must immediately implement waste segregation," Rano told reporters in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

He said Jakarta’s population of around 11 million remains one of the biggest challenges in managing the city’s waste.

The policy would strongly encourage residents to sort waste at the household level, adding that nearly 50% of Jakarta’s waste consists of organic materials.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung issued a gubernatorial regulation in April requiring residents to sort household waste into four categories: organic, residual, recyclable, and hazardous waste. The hazardous waste category includes items such as batteries, lamps, electrical cables, and aerosol cans.

Pramono said violators could face administrative sanctions under Regional Regulation No. 3/2013, ranging from written warnings to fines of up to Rp 5 million (around $288) or imprisonment for up to three months.

Rano added that the administration is also working with international partners to transform the Bantar Gebang landfill into a modern waste-processing facility.

"Hopefully, through cooperation with donor countries, we can turn Bantar Gebang into a new area where waste can be processed more effectively," he said.

The deputy governor recently returned from Copenhagen, where he conducted a benchmarking study on Denmark’s waste management system.

Denmark is widely regarded as one of the world’s leaders in waste management, thanks to its circular economy approach, high landfill taxes, waste-to-energy facilities, and strict waste-sorting system supported by strong public awareness.

Rano said that Jakarta is currently encouraging residents to separate waste into four categories, while Denmark requires households to sort waste into as many as 10 categories.

"They are far ahead of us. Metal, zinc, plastic, glass — everything is separated," he said.

For now, he said the administration would focus on implementing a four-category waste segregation system to ensure recyclable materials can be processed more efficiently.

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