Skip to main content
Article | Industrial and Domestic Waste Management | Volume 5 - Issue 2 - 2025 | 195-209 | https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v5i2.933
© 2025 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Multi-Actor Governance of Waste-to-Energy: A Case Study of the Putri Cempo Waste-to-Energy Power Plant in Surakarta City

Author(s): Syavina Damar Rosi , Andriko Sandria ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6831-8320
Author(s) information:
International Relations Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia

Corresponding author

Industrial and Domestic Waste Management

Volume 5 - Issue 2 - 2025

 About the journal
Submit your article

This research examined the dynamics of governance in waste management through a case study of the Putri Cempo waste-to-energy (WTE) power plant. The growing volume of global waste has driven the need for multi-level governance to advance WTE technology. The application of WTE technology became part of the national commitment to climate change mitigation outlined in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) framework. The development of WTE also contributed to the attainment of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by providing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The main focus was to analyse how multi-actor governance was implemented in WTE management practices at the local level, as well as the challenges that arose in ensuring operational sustainability. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, this study adopted a multi-actor and institutional governance perspective and applied Biermann’s Five A’s concept, architecture, agency, adaptiveness, accountability, and allocation, as the analytical framework for mapping the governance situation of the Putri Cempo WTE facility. The findings indicated that despite regulatory support, including Presidential Regulation No. 35 of 2018 and Indonesia’s enhanced NDC targets, the implementation of the Putri Cempo WTE still faced technical challenges, particularly high moisture content specifications and inadequate waste sorting, which disrupted the gasification process. In addition, the surrounding community reported environmental problems. Increasing technical capacity, developing an effective waste-sorting system, and ensuring more transparent environmental monitoring by managers and supervisors were needed to support the long-term sustainability of waste-to-energy power plant operations.

Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Rezania, S.; Oryani, B.; Nasrollahi, V.R.; Darajeh, N.; Ghahroud, M.; Mehranzamir, K. (2023). Review on waste-to-energy approaches toward a circular economy. Processes, 11, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092566.

Global Waste Management Outlook 2024: Beyond an Age of Waste. United Nations Environment Programme. https://doi.org/10.59117/20.500.11822/44939.

Bond, D. (2023). Broken record. American Journal of Physics, 91, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1544234.

Mid-year population (thousand persons), 2025. (accessed on 15 January 2025). Available online: www.bps.go.id.

Muntoha, G.B.; Afifah, D.S.N.; Hayuhantika, D. (2023). The potential of Sine Beach, Tulungagung Regency, as a solar power plant. Journal of Renewable Resources and Engineering, 5, 115–128.

Arif, M.; Ichsan; Lisapaly, L.; Baqaruzi, S. (2025). Simulation of waste potential in DKI Jakarta Province as a sustainable energy source through waste-to-energy power plants. Journal of Electrical Engineering Research, 7, 35–44. https://doi.org/10.30595/jrre.v7i1.26344.

National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN). (accessed on 12 January 2025). Available online: www.sipsn.kemenlh.go.id/sipsn.

Kyei, S.K.; Boateng, H.K.; Frimpong, A.J. (2025). Renewable energy innovations: fulfilling sustainable development goal targets. Clean Energy, 9, 190–203. https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkae109.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Paris Agreement. (accessed on 10 January 2025). Available online: www.unfccc.int.

United Nations. (2015). The Paris Agreement. United Nations. https://doi.org/10.4324/9789276082569-2.

Falkner, R. (2016). The Paris Agreement and the new logic of international climate politics. International Affairs, 92, 1107–1125. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12708.

Presidential Regulation Number 35 of 2018. (accessed on 8 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Rhofita, E.I. (2025). Waste-to-energy as an ultimate solution: implementation of sustainable development goals. Envirous, 5, 14–20. https://doi.org/10.33005/envirous.v5i2.341.

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (accessed on 5 January 2025). Available online: www.sdgs.un.org/2030agenda.

AlQattan, N.; Acheampong, M.; Jaward, F.M.; Ertem, F.C.; Vijayakumar, N.; Bello, T. (2018). Reviewing the potential of waste-to-energy technologies for sustainable development goals seven and eleven. Renewable Energy Focus, 27, 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2018.09.005.

Dada, O.; Mbohwa, C. (2018). Energy from waste: a possible way of meeting goal 7 of the sustainable development goals. Materials Today: Proceedings, 5, 10577–10584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2017.12.390.

Allan, R.P.; Arias, P.A.; Berger, S.; Canadell, J.G. (2021). Summary for policymakers. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139177245.003.

Qodriyatun, S.N. (2021). Waste-to-energy power plants: between environmental problems and acceleration of renewable energy development. Aspirasi: Journal of Social Issues, 12, 63–84. https://doi.org/10.46807/aspirasi.v12i1.2093.

Global Governance: Our Global Neighborhood. (accessed on 3 January 2025). Available online: www.gdrc.org/u-gov/ugov-programmes.html.

Bruce, S. (2019). Global energy governance and international institutions. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3402057.

Biermann, F. (2007). Earth system governance as a crosscutting theme of global change research. Global Environmental Change, 17, 326–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.11.010.

Ungureanu, N.; Vlăduț, N.V.; Biriș, S.Ș.; Ionescu, M.; Gheorghiță, N.E. (2025). Municipal solid waste gasification: technologies, process parameters, and sustainable valorization of by-products in a circular economy. Sustainability, 17, 1–49. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156704.

Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia. PLTSa Putri Cempo Surakarta. (accessed on 4 January 2025). Available online: www.walhi.or.id.

Republic of Indonesia. (2022). Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution of the Republic of Indonesia. Government of Indonesia.

United Nations Development Programme. Climate Promise. (accessed on 6 January 2025). Available online: www.undp.org.

Sardjoko, S.; Hadiat; Amalia, F.; Masyhud, M. (2023). Towards Golden Indonesia: Reflection and Vision of Development 2005–2045. Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas): Jakarta, Indonesia.

Aprilianto, Y.K.C.; Manar, D.G. (2024). The role of the Surakarta City local government in the Putri Cempo waste-to-energy power plant. Journal of Politics and Government Studies, 13, 288–304. Available online: www.ejournal3.undip.ac.id.

Directorate General of Infrastructure Financing. Public–Private Partnership Node. (accessed on 7 January 2025). Available online: www.simpulkpbu.pu.go.id.

Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 30 of 2007 on Energy. (accessed on 6 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Government Regulation Number 79 of 2014 on National Energy Policy. Government of Indonesia.

Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 44 of 2015. (accessed on 10 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2008 on Waste Management. (accessed on 10 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management. (accessed on 10 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.59/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/7/2016 on Leachate Quality Standards for Final Waste Disposal Facilities. (accessed on 10 January 2025). Available online: www.peraturan.bpk.go.id.

Romianingsih, N.P.W. (2023). Waste-to-energy in Indonesia: opportunities and challenges. Journal of Sustainable Society and Eco-Welfare, 1, 60–69. https://doi.org/10.61511/jssew.v1i1.2023.180.

Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation. (accessed on 11 January 2025). Available online: www.esdm.go.id.

Main Equipment and Balance of Plant of the Putri Cempo Waste-to-Energy Power Plant. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. (accessed on 11 January 2025). Available online: www.esdm.go.id.

Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Emission Quality Standards for Thermal Waste Treatment Activities. Government of Indonesia.

Gao, Y.; et al. (2023). Syngas production from biomass gasification: influences of feedstock properties, reactor type, and reaction parameters. ACS Omega, 8, 31620–31631. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c03050.

Sari, D.N.; Djumiarti, T.; Yuniningsih, T. (2025). Waste management administration at Putri Cempo landfill, Surakarta City. Diponegoro University E-Journal, 1–16.

Widyawidura, M.S.W.; Liestiono, R.P.; Cahyono, M.S.; Prasetya, A. (2017). Effect of material type on organic waste gasification using an updraft fixed-bed reactor. Journal of Energy Engineering, 1, 1–10.

Residents protest waste from the Putri Cempo waste-to-energy plant in Surakarta, citing health impacts. Kompas. (accessed on 12 January 2025). Available online: www.kompas.id.

Technical Brief: Microbiological Water Quality Testing Methods for Escherichia coli and Total Coliform Bacteria. (accessed on 12 January 2025). Available online: www.aquagenx.com.

Tun, M.M.; Palacky, P.; Juchelkova, D. (2020). Renewable waste-to-energy in Southeast Asia: status, challenges, opportunities, and selection. Applied Sciences, 10, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10207312.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 29 November 2025
ACCEPTED: 26 December 2025
PUBLISHED: 28 December 2025
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 27 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v5i2.933

Cite this article
Rosi, S. D., & Sandria, A. (2025). Multi-Actor Governance of Waste-to-Energy: A Case Study of the Putri Cempo Waste-to-Energy Power Plant in Surakarta City . Industrial and Domestic Waste Management, 5(2), 195–209. https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v5i2.933
Keywords
waste-to-energy global governance power plant SDGs putri cempo
Accessed
110
Citations
0
Share this article