Leaders Adopted Jakarta Declaration for Waste Management
Municipal officials committed to prioritizing decentralized organic waste systems over incineration projects.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Organic Food
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Do you believe your community should prioritize decentralized composting programs over industrial waste incineration?
At the Second Regional Congress on Organics and Climate, leaders adopted the Jakarta Declaration to redirect climate finance from waste incineration toward decentralized organic systems. The initiative aims to reduce methane emissions by supporting community-led composting and food rescue projects across Asia.
Why it matters
Organic matter makes up 50% to 70% of municipal waste in Asia, yet incineration currently captures 94% of waste-sector methane funding. By shifting these resources, officials intend to eliminate toxic landfill fires and bolster local environmental sustainability.
Global funding for incineration totals 4 billion USD, while only 1% of waste-sector finance supports organic waste management. Regional successes include Pune's 25-tonne daily diversion and San Fernando City's 89% municipal waste diversion rate.
The players
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
This international network promotes zero-waste systems and advocates for policy changes to move away from incineration.
Care Food Solo
This organization operates logistics pipelines to intercept surplus food from retailers for redistribution to those in need.
The details
Communities are implementing source-separated collection and decentralized composting facilities while establishing logistics pipelines to intercept surplus food. These local models have demonstrated significant fiscal efficiency, such as in Bandung, Indonesia, where waste initiatives save the government 1.7 million USD annually.
Timeline
Care Food Solo rescued 46 tonnes of surplus food in 2025.
The Second Regional Congress on Organics and Climate occurred on September 23-24, 2026.
Participants adopted the Jakarta Declaration on September 29, 2026.
Roadmap
The adoption of the Jakarta Declaration follows a pattern set by international climate agreements by formalizing a transition away from capital-intensive incineration. This move signals a structural pivot toward decentralized, community-managed circular economy models in the waste sector.
Residents may see an increase in local source-separated waste collection programs and community composting facilities in their neighborhoods. These shifts are designed to reduce reliance on large-scale landfilling and improve local air quality by preventing methane-producing waste fires.
The takeaway
The Jakarta Declaration highlights the economic and environmental benefits of managing organic waste at the community level rather than through expensive incineration plants. Readers can support this shift by engaging with local composting initiatives and reducing food waste in their households.
Further reading
Learn more about sustainable practices on our Organic Food page.
More information
View the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives website for detailed policy resources.
Live Poll
Do you believe your community should prioritize decentralized composting programs over industrial waste incineration?
