A Village in Indonesia Offers a Low-Cost Answer to the Waste and Methane Crisis

(Kediri, 29/1/26)Participant of the Zerowaste Academy Present action plans for
Implementing Zerowaste Village and household-level waste segregation.

Gresik, East Java – 28 January 2025 — As European cities grapple with rising waste costs and methane emissions, a small village in eastern Indonesia is demonstrating a low-cost, community-led alternative.

In Wringinanom, Gresik, a neighbourhood waste facility operates without ongoing government subsidies — a rarity in Indonesia’s urban waste system. “I am impressed that this facility can fully finance its own operations,” said Delima Prischa Cahya Purnama from Surabaya’s Development Planning Agency. “In Surabaya, similar facilities depend entirely on municipal budgets.”

Participants of the Zero Waste Academy present action plans for implementing zero-waste villages and household-level waste segregation.
The model was showcased during the Zero Waste Academy, organised by ECOTON Foundation, Zero Waste Indonesia Alliance (AZWI) and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). The programme brings together officials and practitioners from across Java to learn about waste separation at source, community governance and methane reduction.

With organic waste accounting for around 60% of Indonesia’s total waste, poor management has become a major contributor to methane emissions from landfills. In Wringinanom, households separate waste at home, organic waste is composted using simple techniques, and plastic use is reduced through refill systems.

Worker at the TPST 3R facility sort waste after it is collected from household.
Residual waste is sent to the landfill, while organic waste is processed
into compost (Gresik, 28 January 2026)

Inside the Wringinanom 3R Facility

Participants were then taken to the TPST 3R Wringinanom facility to observe the waste management system firsthand — from detailed waste categorisation and processing flows to administrative record-keeping.

They were also introduced to a low-cost composting method using simple ground pits, a technique considered affordable, easy to replicate, and effective for managing organic waste at village and neighbourhood scale.

Eni, a representative from the Batu City Environmental Agency (DLH), praised the approach.

“This simple composting method is highly relevant for village-based waste facilities,” she said. “It requires minimal investment, is easy for communities to understand, and has a significant impact in reducing waste sent to landfill.”

“Technology is not the main issue,” said Abdul Rokhim, head of the Wringinanom facility. “What matters is trust, local rules, and fair service fees.”

Organisers hope the initiative will influence local climate and waste policies as Indonesia works toward its Waste-Free 2030 target.