January 1, 2026 | 03:54 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, marked the arrival of 2026 with a more modest and reflective New Year’s Eve celebration, resulting in a significant reduction in post-event waste, according to the Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH).
The agency reported that leftover waste from the celebrations totaled 415 cubic meters, or around 91.41 tons, well below the 132 tons recorded during New Year’s Eve the previous year.
The decline was attributed to a ban on fireworks, light rainfall that limited outdoor activities, and a shift toward simpler, more reflective celebrations.
Waste collection was concentrated in major celebration areas, including the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, Jalan Sudirman-MH Thamrin and surrounding streets, Sarinah, Dukuh Atas, Semanggi, the SCBD and Indonesia Stock Exchange area, Monas and the Medan Merdeka area, Patung Pemuda Membangun, Lapangan Banteng, and the Istiqlal Mosque complex.
Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency Asep Kuswanto said cleanup operations were carried out swiftly and in a coordinated manner from the evening until early morning.
Despite an increase in street vendors and light rain, which caused trash to adhere to road surfaces and increased its weight, sanitation crews worked largely by hand using brooms and dustpans.
“Thousands of sanitation workers were deployed, supported by waste transport fleets, to ensure Jakarta returned to normal before residents began their daily activities,” Asep said in a written statement on Thursday, January 1, 2026. “By dawn, the cleanup was complete and the city looked clean again.”
Asep noted that the reduction in waste reflected not only policy measures and weather conditions but also a growing public preference for more meaningful New Year celebrations.
He expressed appreciation for sanitation workers who continued to work through the night to maintain the city’s cleanliness.
He also thanked Jakarta residents for their active participation in reducing waste and disposing of trash properly. “Public awareness plays a crucial role in creating an orderly, comfortable, and clean celebration,” he said.
According to Asep, the 2026 New Year’s Eve events were marked by a reflective approach, including collective prayers to express solidarity with communities affected by natural disasters in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh.
He said the spirit of empathy and togetherness aligned with efforts to maintain cleanliness, order, and respect for shared public spaces in Jakarta.
Read: Highlights from Jakarta's 2026 New Year's Eve
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