INTRODUCTION

Indonesia has not yet recovered from the economic crisis of 1997, thus there is little improvements in urban solid waste handling. Rapid population growth in urban areas, socio-cultural classes heterogeneity and community participation that is generally not well-directed and well-organized have resulted the complexities of municipal solid waste (MSW) problems to be handled in a municipality. On the other hand, fund situation and relatively low priority in waste handling among local governments are  general trends, along with the limitations in proper human resources handling waste, adding to the low performance of municipality in handling the sanitation and waste in urban area. Many aspects involved in the cause of inadequate MSW management, some of these are lacks of supports of municipalities to address wastes problems systematically, integrated and comprehensively, lacks of standard policies that are comprehensive and consistent in matters of waste handling, and low awareness among communities about adequate waste handling procedures. This paper will highlight the main issues of SWM management in Indonesia.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) problem in Indonesia, particularly in big cities, is one of the most challenging urban problems for city administrators. Population growth and  ever increasing activities in major cities entails the increase of waste generation and all of the inherent consequences. It was estimated, that of the entire wastes generated, at most only around 60% – 70% that could be transported to final disposal by the institutions responsible in handling wastes and cleanliness, such as City/ District Cleanliness Department. The rest would be handled by the community through their self-effort, or spread and systematically disposed all over the city.

Many aspects involved in the cause of inadequate MSW management in Indonesia, some of these aspects are lacks of:

• Supports of municipalities to address wastes problems systematically, integrated and comprehensively

• Commitments of Central as well as Local Governments in applying sound and professional waste managements

• Standard regulation that are comprehensive and consistent in matters of waste handling so that the practice of waste

handling is so far merely of temporary nature .

• Disciplines among waste managers in applying proper technical procedures

• Understanding and consciousness among communities about adequate waste handling procedures

• Ability and readiness among waste generator communities to pay wastes service deliverances.