Indonesia Supports ASEAN Cooperation to Combat Illegal Waste Movement

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia supports strengthening Southeast Asian countries' commitment to addressing chemical and waste management challenges, including the risks of transboundary movement, at the 11th meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste (AWGCW).

In a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by ANTARA, at the 11th AWGCW meeting, Acting Deputy for Waste, Wastewater, and Hazardous Materials Management at the Ministry of Environment (KLH), Laksmi Widyajayanti, highlighted the importance of managing chemicals and waste as a shared responsibility across countries.

"Healthy chemical and waste management can no longer be seen as a purely national responsibility; it must become a global collective movement. Without concerted efforts at the international level, it will be impossible to combat illegal cross-border waste traffic and realize a circular economy in this region," said Laksmi.

The Indonesian representative, who was hosting the meeting on May 12-13, 2026, also conveyed that Southeast Asian countries need to strengthen regional synergy to maintain a balance between economic growth and environmental protection when faced with challenges.

At the same event, Mahadi Bin Sukarno, the AWGCW chairperson from Malaysia, stated that ASEAN should not become a global waste dumping ground. "As a rapidly developing region, ASEAN must not become a dumping ground for global waste. This meeting is crucial for aligning policy direction so we can balance economic progress with environmental protection and public health," he explained.

He urged ASEAN member countries to remain free from chemical and waste pollution through concrete actions, not just annual meetings.

The meeting also discussed seven priority programs in the AWGCW Action Plan. These programs range from promoting environmentally friendly technology and green industry to responding to chemical accidents and remediating contaminated land.

KLH/BPLH also encourages harmonization of operational standards among member countries to ensure readiness to comply with various international conventions such as the Basel, Minamata, and Montreal Protocols.

Additionally, this meeting provides a space for exchanging innovations related to the circular economy. It encourages waste management that reduces environmental impact and creates sustainable economic value.

Read: Observer: ASEAN Energy Outlook Necessary to Address Energy Crisis

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