The challenges of Solid Waste Management (SWM) have lingered in every region in the world, be it a high or lower-income country. Rural areas–especially small islands in developing countries–can especially face harder challenges in waste management due to their isolated nature and inadequate infrastructures. Bawean, a small island in Indonesia located off Java’s coast, urgently requires immediate action on waste management issues as improper waste disposal behavior creates environmental problems and poses health risks in the future.
Local waste mismanagement in villages on small islands contributes to global environmental consequences. Hence, this article will unravel the issues of solid waste management in Kepuhteluk Village, one of the villages in Tambak Subdistrict, Bawean, East Java, based on the author’s experience engaging in community service in Pacinan—one of the neighborhoods or Dusun in Kepuhteluk Village.
According to the WHO, solid waste includes any sort of waste, trash, refuse, or abandoned materials. It can be classified based on where the garbage is created, such as municipal solid waste, health care waste, and e-waste. Based on the writer’s observation, the types of waste commonly found in Dusun Pacinan are Municipal solid waste (MSW) generated from households. MSW is mostly garbage generated by households, but it also contains commercial and industrial waste that is comparable to domestic waste and has been sent to municipal landfills.
Local circumstances in Dusun Pacinan reflect a global trend in which communities worldwide are grappling with a rising volume of MSW caused by urbanization, population expansion, and shifting consumer habits. According to the World Bank, worldwide solid waste generation is expected to exceed 3.4 billion tons per year by 2050, with low- and middle-income nations having the greatest problems in handling this trash. Furthermore, inappropriate MSW disposal, which frequently ends up in oceans and other natural habitats, contributes to global environmental issues including marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The situation in Dusun Pacinan exemplifies the urgent need for comprehensive waste management solutions that are consistent with worldwide initiatives to minimize trash creation and encourage sustainable behaviors, resulting in a healthier planet.
A UNEP outlook projects that municipal solid waste output will increase from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. However, when the hidden costs of pollution, bad health, and climate change caused by improper waste disposal procedures are included, the cost climbs to USD 361 billion. According to the report’s calculations, reducing waste through preventative and management methods may reduce net yearly expenses to USD 270.2 billion by 2050. However, forecasts indicate that a circular economy model, in which waste creation and economic development are decoupled via waste avoidance, sustainable business practices, and comprehensive waste treatment, may result in a total net benefit of USD 108.5 billion annually.
This shows that SWM is crucial in reducing environmental and health risks associated with inappropriate practices commonly exercised by rural communities, such as uncontrolled garbage burning and waste dumping. However, it is vital to recognize that these behaviors are the result of a systemic problem, such as a lack of waste management infrastructure. Until 2023, Kepuhteluk did not have a government-operated disposal site. This systemic issue drove villagers in Pacinan to engage in actions that were feasible and accessible to them, such as waste burning and dumping in the ocean. These practices are being implemented by the locals to lower the costs involved with waste management and reveal a need for more expertise and proper waste management technologies. With that in mind, it can be seen that raising awareness and systematic behavior change campaigns are fundamental in Kepuhteluk Village. The locals are accustomed to ecologically destructive waste disposal procedures, and it will require quite some time for them to adjust to new ones. In this scenario, the government’s active participation is critical in ensuring that waste management is handled continuously and effectively so that the locals can consistently mirror the habit. The most fundamental measures, such as socializing garbage disposal in trash cans, are also required because locals still need to be made aware of the significance of the habit. This outreach must be complemented by the installation of trash cans in every home, public institutions such as health clinics, schools, and village authorities’ offices, as well as tourist sites.
Currently, the waste management situation in Dusun Pacinan, Bawean, is seeing some important developments. In 2024, an integrated waste processing site or Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Terpadu (TPST) was established and is now operating in Diponggo Village, a nearby village of Kepuhteluk, that accepts waste from Kepuhteluk. This inter-municipal cooperation in infrastructure sharing, or inter-village cooperation in this case, can result in long-term cost savings as well as other qualitative and non-financial benefits such as improved service quality and the ability to share infrastructures. Waste management in Bawean requires a site-specific approach due to the narrow roads, making three-wheeled vehicles, which are already in service to pick up villagers’ waste, the best option for transporting waste.
The TPST was built away from the community because if it were closer, it would undoubtedly have an impact on the quality of life, such as how people’s activities would be disrupted by the sound of waste processing machinery, unpleasant odors, and smoke from burning trash. However, there is an issue with Kepuhteluk Village residents’ reluctance to travel long distances. The TPST’s distance from the Kepuhteluk Village Hall, which is around 5 kilometers, may cause a structural issue that prohibits the community from properly disposing of solid waste in the village. To address this issue—in addition to garbage collection vehicles—the government should consider establishing several waste collection stations in areas more than 2 kilometers from the disposal site.
With the development of a disposal facility in neighboring Diponggo Village, households in Dusun Pacinan must now pay a monthly charge of 7,500 IDR for garbage disposal services, which are collected twice a week. Despite these advancements, substantial concerns remain. While there are plans to hire people from Kepuhteluk or Diponggo to supervise garbage transportation, logistical issues persist. Conversations with local leaders, such as Mas Zaka—a representative from the local youth organization, suggest a great desire for Dusun Pacinan to handle its garbage autonomously, hence creating job possibilities for locals. However, the absence of necessary infrastructure, such as vehicles and sufficient human resources, impedes this purpose.
Furthermore, there has been no official direction from the local administration to start paying for trash management services. This absence of specific instructions puts inhabitants in a condition of uncertainty, preventing them from moving forward autonomously without explicit supervision from the village administration. In the meantime, temporary measures include utilizing plastic bags for garbage collection until appropriate trash containers are available, which is expected to happen in 2025.
Learning from successful local programs in other regions, such as the community-driven waste management program in Alaminos, Philippines, where citizens and local businesses work together to properly manage garbage, might serve as a model for Dusun Pacinan. Partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations can also provide much-needed knowledge and resources. For example, India’s Waste Warriors project significantly enhanced the management of waste via community engagement, education, and collaboration with local governments. Engaging the business sector may also be advantageous; corporations such as Unilever have developed waste-collecting initiatives in several developing countries, highlighting corporate social responsibility.
The lack of well-defined punishments for noncompliance highlights a deficiency in the regulatory framework, which might jeopardize the waste management program’s performance. While attempts to develop a more organized waste management system are commendable, the success of these projects is dependent on overcoming operational and legal obstacles and ensuring that sustainable practices are fully integrated into the community’s everyday routines. To make significant progress, a diverse strategy combining local government, community leaders, NGOs, foreign organizations, and companies is required. These players may work together to create sustainable waste management systems that not only meet current logistical issues but also promote long-term commitment to the environment and economic growth.
