Jakarta, Feb. 26 -- Indonesia must adopt a holistic approach that integrates both upstream and downstream waste management to ensure systematic and sustainable solutions to its mounting waste problem, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said on Thursday.

Speaking at the 2026 National Coordination Meeting on Waste Management in Jakarta, Karnavian noted that Indonesia is the world's fifth-largest waste producer and ranks third in plastic waste generation, describing the situation as alarming and requiring serious evaluation.

"I want this meeting to be more than a ceremonial event, but to serve as yet another wake-up call," he said in a statement from his office.

He stressed that waste management extends beyond cleanliness and hygiene, a...