Residents dump truckloads of garbage in front of the Regent’s office, forcing to cancel waste deal
Pandeglang residents dumped truckloads of garbage in protest of a waste deal with South Tangerang, demanding the Bangkonol landfill not accept outside waste. The government canceled the agreement on 31 August after inspections and community feedback, with locals vowing to monitor the landfill closely.
- On 20 August 2025, about 300 Pandeglang residents dumped truckloads of garbage to protest a waste deal with South Tangerang.
- The agreement, signed on 25 2025, would have allowed up to 500 tons of waste per day at the Bangkonol landfill and was valued at Rp40 billion (USD 2.6 million).
- Residents criticized the plan for health and environmental risks.
- Banten Deputy Governor A. Dimyati Natakusumah instructed the cancellation and advised South Tangerang to find an alternative site.
- On 31 August, the cooperation was officially terminated, and locals pledged to monitor the landfill to prevent outside waste.
Pandeglang, Banten — About 300 residents of Pandeglang, Indonesia, dumped truckloads of garbage in front of the Regent’s and Regional Legislative Council offices on 20 August 2025. The protest targeted a waste management agreement that would have allowed South Tangerang’s trash to be processed at the Bangkonol landfill in Pandeglang. Protestors said the action was meant to make officials experience the same stench residents endure daily while protecting their health and environment.
Details of the cooperation agreement
The cooperation, signed on 25 July 2025, would have allowed up to 500 tons of waste per day from South Tangerang to be processed at Bangkonol landfill in Kroncong District. The deal, valued at Rp40 billion (around US$ 2.6 million), included plans to upgrade the landfill from an open dumping system to a sanitary landfill, expand the site by 3.5 hectares, and install heavy equipment and a Material Recovery Facility. It was also projected to generate between Rp6 billion and Rp11 billion annually in local revenue.
Deputy Regent Iing Andri Supriadi explained that the arrangement followed a warning from the Ministry of Environment, which gave Pandeglang 180 days to improve Bangkonol’s waste management system or risk closure.
On 7 August 2025, dozens of residents staged a demonstration at the Environmental Agency office, blocking landfill access and redirecting garbage trucks to the Environmental Agency office. Community member named Enjen criticized the deal, saying it would benefit the government while the people living near the landfill will bear the negative impacts, local media reported.
Regent Dewi’s surprise inspection
In response to the protests, Pandeglang Regent Dewi Setiani conducted a surprise inspection of the Bangkonol landfill on 12 August 2025. She expressed frustration over poor waste management, including scattered trash and the absence of a leachate system. Following the inspection, Dewi dismissed the head of the landfill’s Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) and the director of Pandeglang Berkah Maju (PBM), the regional company managing the site.
“I am ensuring that the UPT head is replaced today, and the PBM director is removed,” she stated firmly.
Deputy governor Dimyati’s directive
Despite assurances that South Tangerang’s waste would only be sent after infrastructure improvements, protests continued. Amid the growing unrest, Banten Deputy Governor A. Dimyati Natakusumah instructed both Pandeglang and South Tangerang governments to cancel the waste management agreement. He cited community concerns and feedback from local residents, also advising South Tangerang to seek an alternative site as Bangkonol was not yet ready.
“This is no longer a recommendation — it is an instruction to cancel the MoU,” he emphasized. Dimyati also noted that he had personally inspected the Bangkonol landfill and received feedback directly from local residents.
Official termination of the agreement
Following this directive, on 31 August 2025, Regent Dewi officially announced the termination of the cooperation. She emphasized the decision was based on input from the community, religious leaders, and the Deputy Governor, underlining the need for regional stability.
She confirmed Bangkonol would not receive waste from South Tangerang and said her administration would request an extension from the Ministry of Environment to continue operations while upgrading the landfill to meet national standards.
Residents pledge vigilance
On September 1, residents living near the Bangkonol landfill welcomed the decision and pledged to monitor it closely. They said locals would continue guarding the landfill to prevent outside waste and warned of larger demonstrations if the regent reversed her stance.
