Challenges in Adopting Successful Waste-to-Energy Policies in EU Countries: Indonesia study case

The waste problem is a homework for all countries, especially high-populated developing countries like Indonesia. The country is predicted to be the fifth largest waste generating country, with most of its waste still going to the landfill. Our study aims to review policy challenges for Indonesia in implementing waste management measures, especially compared to some benchmark countries, which include Germany, Netherlands, and Denmark. These countries are considered as frontrunners in waste to energy implementation. Although several similar waste management policies in EU countries have been partially implemented in Indonesia, its implementation can still be improved. A full implementation requires several top-down and bottom-up approaches involving the participation of informal sectors and their associations. Indonesia should also identify other technologies than refuse-derived fuels to optimize waste usage for energy.

I. Introduction

Global waste production may reach 2.59 and 3.40 billion tons in 2030 and 2040 respectively [2]. Most wastes were disposed to open dump, especially in low-income countries (i.e., 90% of wastes disposed to open dumps) [3]. In high-income countries, waste disposed in open dumps accounted for only 2% of total generated waste in 2019, while approximately 59% of total generated waste was composted, recycled, incinerated, or processed using other advanced methods [4]. Waste management is an integral process of environment protections, education, community participations, and economic activities [5]. The essential elements of waste management include waste generation, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal. The processing element could be one or more of reusing, recycling, composting, incineration, energy recovery, on-site burial, open burning, and bio-remediation [6].