Langkawi, Malaysia — The Indonesian district of Banyumas has been recognized at the 6th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Award 2025, receiving both the prestigious award and the 5th Certificate of Recognition for its groundbreaking approach to waste management.
The award, presented on September 9 in Langkawi, Malaysia, highlights Banyumas’s success in building an inclusive, community-based waste management system that now processes 77% of the district’s total waste.
Key initiatives include:
- Establishing 67 active waste banks across the district, serving as both recycling hubs and public education centers.
- Applying the 3R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle) to maximize resource efficiency.
- Introducing Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technology, maggot cultivation, composting, and TPS3R-based sorting systems.
- Creating new economic opportunities through waste-to-resource innovation.
Banyumas was honored alongside four other Indonesian regions—Malang, Bandung, Padang, and Ciamis—demonstrating Indonesia’s strong contribution to ASEAN’s sustainability agenda.
Officials emphasized that Banyumas’s model is now regarded as a regional benchmark, offering lessons for other Southeast Asian cities striving to balance urban growth with environmental stewardship.
Although Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono could not attend the ceremony in person, the award is seen as a powerful motivation for the district to continue strengthening its environmental governance.
The recognition underscores ASEAN’s shared commitment to sustainable development, where local governments play a pivotal role in advancing climate resilience, waste reduction, and community empowerment.
