Collaborations to Transform Waste Management and Achieve Sustainability
As part of the IMT-GT Working Group on Environment and Green Cities Mayor Council (GCMC) initiatives, a workshop titled “Sharing Experiences and Knowledge for Preparing Local Initiatives to Improve Circularity and Municipal Solid Waste Management” took place in Padang on January 8th, 2025. Organized by the Center for Environmental Studies (PSLH) at Andalas University, the event brought together key speakers, including Sandhi Eko Bramono Poedjastanto from the Directorate of Sanitation, Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works; Dr. Eng. Sudarmanto Budi Nugroho from IGES Japan; Dr. Ir. Fadjar Goembira, Board of Experts at PSLH Universitas Andalas; Robby Febrian, Co-founder of ECOAHTO Waste Recycle and Management; and other stakeholders involved in Padang’s waste management.
In his welcoming remarks, Padang’s Assistant for Economic and Development highlighted the city’s waste management challenges, noting that Padang produces over 600 tonnes of waste daily, with only 74% managed, leaving over 150 tonnes unprocessed. He emphasized the need to reduce waste generation and enhance management capabilities. Dr. Efa Yonnedi, Rector of Andalas University, stressed the importance of innovative solutions for growing waste volumes, saying, “An integrated approach focusing on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and new technologies is essential. Universitas Andalas is committed to supporting these innovations through cross-sector collaboration.” Muhammad Hafiz Hannibal, Deputy Director of CIMT, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts, bridging the gap between policy and action, co-creating innovative projects, and fostering sustainable urban development benefiting the entire IMT-GT subregion and beyond.
The workshop concluded with a reinforced commitment to cross-sector collaboration among academics, government, and the community to address increasingly complex waste management challenges and achieve long-term sustainability. This event marks a significant step forward in the collective efforts to transform waste management practices and achieve sustainability in the IMT-GT subregion.
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