Empowering Communities and Preventing Pollution in Tegal, Indonesia

As part of the CLOCC initiative, a village pilot programme is underway in Tegal, Indonesia. Coordinated locally by The Indonesia Solid Waste Association (InSWA), this project aims to combat marine litter and plastic pollution through sustainable waste management strategies by working directly with villages (a rural community that functions in a similar way to a local government).

Conducting waste sampling across the regency in May 2024

Tegal, a coastal city in the northwest part of Central Java, is home to nearly 1.6 million people and plays a crucial role in regional trade and fisheries. However, like many coastal regions, it faces significant waste management challenges, particularly concerning plastic waste entering waterways and marine ecosystems. In May 2024, Tegal was the third regency in Indonesia to join the CLOCC initiative, following Banyuwangi and Tabanan.

A Collaborative Approach to Waste Management

Over the next 12 months, InSWA will work closely with seven villages in Tegal: Pedeslohor Village, Dukuhbangsa Village, Batumirah Village, Ujungrusi Village, Kertasari Village, West Mejasem Village, and East Balapulang Village. In Indonesia, villages operate as local government entities, making them critical stakeholders in the implementation of waste management solutions.

This pilot project follows nearly a year of preparation, including the signing of an MoU with the Tegal government in May 2024, extensive stakeholder meetings, participatory planning workshops, and waste sampling and analysis. These steps all follow CLOCC's tested and proven participatory planning approach and its 7-step Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) framework.

Stakeholder Workshops May 2024

Batumirah Village

Batumirah Village, located at the foot of Mount Slamet in Bumijawa District, is one of the villages participating in this next phase. Known for its farming community and proximity to the Guci tourist area, Batumirah covers an area of 240.77 km² with a population of 4,728.

Batumirah currently provides basic waste collection services, serving approximately 200 households through a tiered contribution system:

• Priority waste producers (traders, shops, restaurants, etc.): IDR 5,000 per collection, with two collections per week (currently 121 customers).

• Priority household waste: IDR 5,000 per collection, with one collection per week.

• Ordinary household waste: IDR 2,000 per collection, with one collection per week.

  
  

Additionally, some residents participate in waste bank services, managing their waste independently. The village currently operates with a single three-wheeled vehicle for waste transport and a small temporary waste storage facility (TPS) in the local market.

With 1,400 households producing 2.17 tons of waste per day, this current system is insufficient and causing significant leakage into the environment.

As part of the CLOCC program, Batumirah Village will take concrete steps to improve and expand its waste management services. One key initiative is securing additional land for a new waste processing site (TPS) through a land-use agreement with Perhutani, coordinated with the Provincial Environmental Agency (DLH). To strengthen local waste management efforts, the village is also working to establish a structured community-based organization, KSM Mandiri, that will oversee operations. In parallel, infrastructure development plans include the construction of a proper waste sorting and storage facility on Perhutani land. To support these initiatives, the village has committed approximately IDR 50 million in its 2025 budget for waste management improvements.

Building a Cleaner Future

The Village initiative in Tegal represents a significant step toward achieving sustainable waste management in coastal communities. By strengthening local government capacities, improving waste management infrastructure, and engaging community stakeholders, this initiative will contribute to a cleaner environment and healthier oceans.