Jakarta, April 13 -- Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq urged regional governments to immediately end open dumping practices in landfills and shift to a controlled landfill system to avoid landfill fires during the dry season.

He said specifically in North Sulawesi, only four out of 15 districts have ended open dumping practices and transitioned to a controlled landfill system.

"I urge district heads and mayors that by August, open dumping practices must be ended," he stressed after witnessing the signing of a cooperation pact on the waste-to-energy plant construction in North Sulawesi, here on Monday.

He explained that controlled or sanitary landfill practices-where waste is compacted and covered with layers of soil-are designe...