The construction of Waste-to-Energy Plants (PLTSa) has become a national urgency in resolving waste issues across various regions. Nevertheless, Deputy Chairman of Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sugeng Suparwoto, emphasized that the execution of this strategic project must continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of nearby residents through proper site selection.
Sugeng made the statement following an audience with representatives of the community joined under the People's Movement Against the Location of the Makassar PLTSa/PSEL Construction. He clarified that the objections raised by the public were not a rejection of waste processing technology itself, but rather concern over the facility's proximity to residential areas.
Sugeng emphasized that the use of *waste to energy* technology is a crucial step to replace the *open dumping* system targeted for phase-out by the government. The main focus of PLTSa should lie in the effectiveness of managing increasingly complex waste volumes, rather than merely on energy production aspects.
Furthermore, the legislator from the NasDem Party highlighted the importance of consistency in implementing the Spatial Planning Plan (RTRW). According to him, social conflicts like the one in Makassar could be avoided if spatial planning aspects were executed with discipline from the initial planning stage.
As a follow-up step, Commission XII of DPR RI is committed to facilitating dialogue with local government officials and project executors in South Sulawesi. The goal is to find the best resolution, including the possibility of relocation, so that the national waste management program can proceed without sacrificing the interests and comfort of the community.
