Perspectives on Waste Management for Improving Waste Management with Impact on Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The waste problem in Indonesia has reached an alarming level, with national annual production exceeding 68 million tons, nearly 40% of which remains unmanaged (KLHK, 2025). This study aims to analyze the environmental and public health impacts of unmanaged waste, evaluate the effectiveness of current government regulations, and increase public awareness regarding individual responsibility in waste reduction and management (Jambeck et al., 2015; Purwaningrum, 2016). Using a descriptive-analytical qualitative method (Bowen, 2009) to examine real environmental phenomena, official statistics from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), and related legal frameworks—including Law No. 18 of 2008 and Government Regulation No. 81 of 2012—the findings reveal that household activities account for the largest proportion of waste (56%), dominated by single-use plastics. Furthermore, despite comprehensive legal regulations, law enforcement and public participation remain weak. This study concludes that sustainable waste management requires a collective behavioral transformation starting at the individual level alongside enhanced institutional synergy (Damanhuri & Padmi, 2010).