UNDIP – Open Waste Burning (Pembakaran Sampah Terbuka / PST) is a significant contributor to environmental pollution and health risks that often go unnoticed. Dr. Eng. Bimastyaji Surya Ramadan, S.T., M.T., a lecturer in Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, offers fresh insights into the impacts and mitigation strategies for Open Waste Burning through his latest research titled, “Assessment of Open Waste Burning Activity and its Mitigation Strategy to Control Environmental Pollution.”
The research focuses on three main areas: a global and regional literature review, a field study at the city level (Semarang), and an analysis at the regional level of Southeast Asia.
Using a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA), the study highlights the environmental and health impacts of Open Waste Burning by employing bibliometric and qualitative content analysis methods. “The findings reveal that Open Waste Burning is a major concern for researchers, particularly regarding environmental and health risks. However, emission data gaps in several countries, including Indonesia, need to be addressed to produce more accurate risk estimates,” explained Bimastyaji.
The study in Semarang found that Open Waste Burning activity peaks in urban areas. Based on transect surveys, only 11.38% of waste piles were not burned. During the dry season, approximately 212.94 tons of waste are burned daily, compared to 161.17 tons per day during the rainy season.
It was also revealed that each individual in Semarang could burn up to 1.098 kg of waste per day, with peri-urban areas contributing nearly 47.39% of the total Open Waste Burning activity during the dry season.
Laboratory tests identified plastics as the highest contributor to emissions from Open Waste Burning, with an estimated total emission of 53,809.66 tons/year. While the carcinogenic risk from Open Waste Burning was found to be low, non-cancer health risks exceeded safe thresholds.
The study proposes mitigation strategies by optimizing waste collection points (Tempat Pengumpulan Sampah / TPS). This mitigation scenario could reduce uncollected waste volume from 1,080 m³/day to 462 m³/day, thereby lowering the intensity of Open Waste Burning.
Bimastyaji emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration and policy support in reducing Open Waste Burning. The recommendations from this research guide policymakers in depriving environmental pollution caused by Open Waste Burning.
“This research is expected to serve as a foundation for designing sustainable waste management policies at local, national, and regional levels,” said Bimastyaji.
Through this research, Universitas Diponegoro continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting sustainable development and improving environmental management. (DHW)
