Building Waste Solutions in Seven Villages in the Tegal Regency

CLOCC Supported TPS3R Facility in Tegal

The CLOCC Village Assistance Programme has brought together seven diverse villages in Tegal Regency of Central Java, Indonesia: Batumirah, Ujungrusi, Pedeslohor, Kertasari, Balapulang Wetan, Mejasem Barat, and Dukuhbangsa. These villages represent the diversity of the rural landscape in Java from coastal to upland, from agricultural economies to service economies. These villages share a common challenge: the urgent need for better waste management.

In Indonesia, a village is a subdivision of a district and is not necessarily a village in the typical sense. Village waste management in Indonesia is often overlooked, and bad practices are prevalent such as open burning, dumping into waterways and in vacant land.

Before CLOCC’s intervention, conditions ranged from no collection services and widespread open burning in Dukuhbangsa, to informal, unsystematic waste collection in Batumirah, Ujungrusi, and Pedeslohor, and basic infrastructure with limited-service quality in Balapulang Wetan, Kertasari, and Mejasem Barat. The CLOCC programme in Tegal is being implemented by InSWA (Indonesian Solid Waste Association) who have responded with tailored approaches: initiating services from scratch, stabilizing existing systems, and optimizing high-performing ones.

Pedeslohor village built a simple hangar for their local TPS3R

Since the Village Assistance Programme began in October 2024, each village has created a local action plan and implemented improvements between April and August 2025. Support included TPS3R facility upgrades, equipment provision, operator training, and household outreach. The outcomes are already showing:

• Balapulang Wetan is eliminating open burning and reducing landfill dependency.

• Batumirah expanded service coverage from 200 to over 1,050 households.

• Dukuhbangsa and Pedeslohor built systems from scratch, now serving over 300 households each.

• Mejasem Barat is on track to reach 100% household service coverage.

• Kertasari expanded its reach and enhanced organic waste treatment.

• Ujungrusi transformed its waste bank into a functional TPS3R hub.

  
  

By improving household access to waste services, enhancing TPS3R operations, and reinforcing village regulations, these communities are laying the foundation for a circular economy in rural Indonesia. While challenges remain, their success proves that local leadership and community collaboration can drive lasting environmental change.