Indonesia Battles Massive Landfill Fire Caused by Waste Crisis

For eight days, a large fire has been burning at a waste site in Indonesia. The blaze at the Jatiwaringin landfill is located on the edge of Jakarta, the capital city. The fire has spread across more than 15 hectares of land. This area is roughly the size of twenty-two soccer fields. The flames have created thick, toxic smoke that covers the surrounding area. Hundreds of local residents have had to leave their homes because of the dangerous air.

Health officials have reported a sharp increase in breathing problems due to the poor air quality. Firefighters have used many tools to fight the fire. They have sent helicopters, water trucks, bulldozers, and drones to help put out the flames. Officials hope to control the fire by the end of the week. However, environmental activists argue that this fire is just one part of a larger problem. They describe the situation as an ecological disaster caused by long-term neglect of waste management systems.

The fire started on June 30. It began with a small spark that spread quickly. Strong winds helped the fire move to different parts of the landfill. It spread to areas where trash was piled very high. It also reached spots that were hard for firefighters to access. In the week since it started, heavy black clouds of smoke have covered nearby neighborhoods. Measurements from the Ministry of Environment show that the air quality around the landfill was at hazardous levels. The severity of the pollution has eased slightly in recent days, but the air remains dangerous.

Sarmanah, a 45-year-old local resident, told reporters that toxic smoke filled her house. She was forced to flee with her child. She recalled, "The smoke was so thick you couldn't see anyone." She explained that the smoke stings the nose and makes people cough and have a runny nose. It makes it difficult to breathe. Because the situation became unbearable, her family had to leave their home. Hundreds of other residents did the same. They went to a shelter set up by the local government.

Tosiyani, a 37-year-old mother, said she was not allowed to go back home. She stated that the smoke contains toxic gas that is harmful to health. Local health authorities have examined at least 234 residents who suffered from respiratory illnesses caused by the fire. Among these patients, 72 were found to have acute respiratory tract infections.

Meanwhile, smoke and small fires continue to smolder in several piles of rubbish. These hotspots are mostly found to the west and south of the main landfill. Djohan Darmawan, the Director of Emergency Operations Control Coordination at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), explained that fighting this fire is difficult. The blaze is not just on the surface. It is burning inside the deep piles of rubbish, making it hard to extinguish.

Officials have not officially confirmed the exact cause of the fire. However, the Indonesian non-governmental organization Forum for the Environment (Walhi) suggests that the fire was triggered by methane gas. This gas comes from decomposing organic waste. The fire is a result of an unregulated open dumping system that is common in Indonesia.

Wahyu Eka Styawan, a campaigner with Walhi, told the BBC that this is a "time bomb" of waste management problems. He said these issues have been ignored for years without fundamental improvements. According to Walhi, the amount of waste generated by Tangerang Regency is far more than what the Jatiwaringin landfill can handle. The landfill was designed to hold up to 2,700 tons of waste per day. However, this capacity only covers 59% of the waste produced in the region. The remaining waste has nowhere to go.

The answer can be found at open dumping sites across Tangerang. These sites are located in areas surrounding the actual landfill. As a result, large mountains of noxious trash have grown within a hundred meters of people's homes. This situation has caused problems long before the fire started. Locals living near Jatiwaringin told reporters they were constantly plagued by bad smells, flies, and fears of landslides.

The accumulation of methane gas, made worse by heat waves and the climate crisis, turns these dumping grounds into dangerous powder kegs. Wahyu explained, "As soon as there is a small spark or heat, the methane gas under the mountain of rubbish immediately ignites."

Major fires occurred at several landfills throughout 2023. One example is the Sarimukti Landfill in Bandung Regency. That fire burned dozens of hectares of land and was suspected to be caused by cigarette butts and methane buildup. Another landfill fire in Tangerang occurred just months later. That fire destroyed about 80% of the 35-hectare site and was believed to have been triggered in the same way.

Rizal Irawan, the Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said an investigation into the cause of the Jatiwaringin fire would be conducted after the extinguishing process is complete. The Ministry will also evaluate 390 landfills across Indonesia in early August 2026. Rizal noted that the Jatiwaringin landfill had already received administrative sanctions from the Ministry for poor management in 2025.

In addition to sanctions, the Ministry instructed local governments to implement a controlled landfill system. In this system, waste is leveled or compacted using heavy equipment. It is then periodically covered with a layer of soil. This method can minimize the risk of fires caused by methane gas buildup. It also reduces the risk of disease and improves the tidiness of the disposal area.

However, Wahyu and other experts believe the problem will persist unless central and regional governments show true commitment to improving waste management. He said, "Regulation is not implemented because there is no firmness and sanctions. The budget for waste management in the regions is minimal. There is also a lack of focus on educating residents about sorting organic waste from home."

Wahyu added that the fire at Jatiwaringin should serve as a stark warning to the central government. He argued that this crisis cannot be resolved with emergency responses or superficial solutions. Without waste reduction at the source, ongoing sorting, and organic waste processing, there will always be a risk of environmental disasters. Organic waste processing prevents methane gas from forming.

He warned, "It could definitely catch fire again if the pattern isn't changed. As long as organic waste remains piled up in a jumbled mess, methane gas will continue to be produced underground. Once the weather gets hot again, be prepared for more fires."

Additional reporting by Muhammad Iqbal