A Look at the Rules Banning the Burning of Rubbish Following a Row Among Depok Residents

Residents in Depok, West Java, have been in dispute over the burning of rubbish, which has led to a road being blocked off.

Residents living in RT 7 and the Zenix Cimanggis housing estate in Jatijajar, Depok, have been in dispute following a warning about rubbish burning. One party blocked the road, cutting off access for both sides.

The police intervened to mediate the dispute. AKP Hendra Kurniawan, Head of Public Relations at the Depok Metro Police, said the incident began on Tuesday (29 September) in Jatijajar, Tapos, Depok.

“A resident of the Zenix Cimanggis Housing Estate, Mr A, felt disturbed by the smoke from the burning of rubbish,” said AKP Hendra in his statement on Monday (12 October), as quoted by detikcom.

According to the Ministry of Law’s official website, the prohibition on burning rubbish that does not comply with the technical requirements for waste management is set out in Article 29(1) of Law No. 18 of 2008 on waste management.

This article states that no person shall burn waste in a manner that does not comply with the technical requirements for waste management.

This rule is also regulated at the provincial level, namely in Article 49(1)(f) of West Java Provincial Regulation No. 12 of 2010 on Waste Management in West Java, as amended by West Java Provincial Regulation No. 1 of 2016.

In that Regional Regulation, Article 49(1)(f) states that no person shall burn waste in open spaces in a manner that does not comply with the technical requirements for waste management.

Penalties for those who burn waste in a manner that does not comply with the technical requirements for waste management are regulated in accordance with the respective local regulations. This provision is set out in Article 29(4) of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management.

In Depok, this rule is set out in Article 45(3)(i) of Depok City Local Regulation No. 7 of 2025 on Waste Management.

Penalties for residents of Depok who engage in other waste management activities that have the potential to cause environmental pollution and/or damage, such as the indiscriminate burning of waste, may be subject to a criminal fine of up to Rp50 million.

This penalty is a form of administrative sanction as set out in Article 45 in conjunction with Article 44 of Depok City Regional Regulation No. 7 of 2025 on Waste Management.

The practice of burning waste is also prohibited in Jakarta. This is regulated under DKI Jakarta Regional Regulation No. 3 of 2013 on Waste Management, specifically Article 126(e).

“Burning waste that pollutes the environment,” reads the article.

“Any person who negligently or wilfully burns waste that pollutes the environment as referred to in Article 126(e) shall be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations,” states Article 135(1).

According to a post on the Instagram account of the Jakarta Provincial Government’s Environment Agency, burning waste in Jakarta is punishable by an administrative fine of up to Rp500,000, as stipulated in Article 130(1) of Jakarta Provincial Regulation No. 3 of 2013 on Waste Management.