How Are Environmental Permits Integrated Under PERMENLHK 6/2021?

Introduction: Indonesia's Integrated Hazardous Waste Permit System

On April 1, 2021, Indonesia implemented a transformative regulatory framework that fundamentally restructures environmental permitting for hazardous and toxic waste management. Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor 6 Tahun 2021 tentang Tata Cara dan Persyaratan Pengelolaan Limbah Bahan Berbahaya dan Beracun (Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 6 of 2021 on Procedures and Requirements for Hazardous and Toxic Waste Management) consolidates eleven previously fragmented regulations into a unified permitting system. This comprehensive regulation establishes mandatory technical approval and operational licensing requirements for all hazardous waste management activities, while integrating these approvals with Indonesia's Environmental Approval (Persetujuan Lingkungan) and Online Single Submission (OSS) business licensing systems.

The regulation's most significant innovation is the integration of hazardous waste technical approvals into Environmental Approval instruments as mandated by Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021. Article 1(44) defines "Persetujuan Teknis di bidang Pengelolaan Limbah B3" (Technical Approval in Hazardous Waste Management) as "bentuk persetujuan teknis Pengelolaan Limbah B3 dari Pemerintah Pusat atau Pemerintah Daerah berdasarkan standar Pengelolaan Limbah B3" (form of technical approval for Hazardous Waste Management from Central Government or Regional Government based on Hazardous Waste Management standards). This integration eliminates the dual permitting system that previously required businesses to obtain separate environmental approvals and hazardous waste permits through disconnected administrative processes, creating regulatory inefficiencies and compliance burdens.

PERMENLHK 6/2021 establishes a two-tier permitting framework for hazardous waste management activities. Article 220(1) mandates that "Setiap Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan wajib Amdal atau UKL-UPL yang melakukan kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3 wajib memiliki: a. Persetujuan Teknis PLB3; dan b. SLO-PLB3" (Every Business and/or Activity requiring AMDAL or UKL-UPL that conducts Hazardous Waste Management activities must have: a. Technical Approval for B3 Waste Management; and b. Operational Feasibility Letter for B3 Waste Management). This two-tier system creates sequential approval stages: businesses first obtain technical approval (Persetujuan Teknis PLB3) demonstrating their facility designs and management plans meet regulatory standards, then secure operational feasibility letters (SLO-PLB3) after completing facility construction and operational testing.

The regulation distinguishes between four core hazardous waste management activities requiring technical approval and operational licensing: collection (Pengumpulan), utilization (Pemanfaatan), treatment (Pengolahan), and disposal (Penimbunan). Article 220(2) explicitly lists these activities: "Kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3 sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) meliputi: a. Pengumpulan Limbah B3; b. Pemanfaatan Limbah B3; c. Pengolahan Limbah B3; dan d. Penimbunan Limbah B3" (Hazardous Waste Management activities as referred to in paragraph (1) include: a. Hazardous Waste Collection; b. Hazardous Waste Utilization; c. Hazardous Waste Treatment; and d. Hazardous Waste Disposal). Businesses conducting any of these four activities must secure both technical approval and operational feasibility letters before commencing operations.

The integration with Environmental Approval instruments fundamentally changes Indonesia's hazardous waste permitting landscape. Under the previous system, businesses obtained Environmental Approval through separate processes from hazardous waste permits, creating administrative disconnection. PERMENLHK 6/2021 integrates technical approvals into Environmental Approval pathways, enabling businesses to apply for both approvals simultaneously through consolidated application processes. Article 221(2)(a) explicitly authorizes concurrent applications, stating that for AMDAL-required activities, technical approval applications can be submitted "bersamaan dengan permohonan Persetujuan Lingkungan" (simultaneously with Environmental Approval applications). This integration streamlines compliance, reduces processing times, and eliminates duplicative documentation requirements.

This comprehensive analysis examines PERMENLHK 6/2021's integrated permitting framework, focusing on technical approval requirements, operational feasibility procedures, authority distribution, application processes, and OSS system integration. Understanding this regulation is essential for businesses generating or managing hazardous waste in Indonesia, as compliance with these permitting requirements constitutes a prerequisite for legal business operations and avoidance of administrative sanctions that can halt facility operations.

1.0 Two-Tier Permitting: Technical Approval and Operational Feasibility

Article 220(1) of PERMENLHK 6/2021 establishes the dual permitting requirement for hazardous waste management facilities: "Setiap Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan wajib Amdal atau UKL-UPL yang melakukan kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3 wajib memiliki: a. Persetujuan Teknis PLB3; dan b. SLO-PLB3" (Every Business and/or Activity requiring AMDAL or UKL-UPL that conducts Hazardous Waste Management activities must have: a. Technical Approval for B3 Waste Management; and b. Operational Feasibility Letter for B3 Waste Management). This provision creates mandatory sequential stages—businesses cannot obtain operational feasibility letters without first securing technical approvals, and cannot commence hazardous waste management operations without obtaining both documents.

The technical approval stage, defined in Article 1(44) as "Persetujuan Teknis di bidang Pengelolaan Limbah B3 yang selanjutnya disebut Persetujuan Teknis PLB3 adalah bentuk persetujuan teknis Pengelolaan Limbah B3 dari Pemerintah Pusat atau Pemerintah Daerah berdasarkan standar Pengelolaan Limbah B3" (Technical Approval in Hazardous Waste Management hereinafter called Technical Approval PLB3 is the form of technical approval for Hazardous Waste Management from Central Government or Regional Government based on Hazardous Waste Management standards), focuses on pre-operational requirements. Technical approvals evaluate facility designs, operational procedures, equipment specifications, safety systems, and environmental management plans before construction or operations commence. Government agencies assess whether proposed facilities meet regulatory standards for safe hazardous waste management, verifying technical adequacy before authorizing capital investments.

The operational feasibility stage, defined in Article 1(45) as "Surat Kelayakan Operasional di bidang Pengelolaan Limbah B3 yang selanjutnya disingkat SLO-PLB3 adalah surat kelayakan pemenuhan standar Pengelolaan Limbah B3 dalam melaksanakan kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3" (Operational Feasibility Letter in Hazardous Waste Management hereinafter abbreviated SLO-PLB3 is a feasibility letter for fulfilling Hazardous Waste Management standards in implementing Hazardous Waste Management activities), occurs after facility construction completion. Article 230(1) requires businesses to submit two completion reports: "laporan penyelesaian pembangunan fasilitas Pengelolaan Limbah B3, untuk kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3 yang memerlukan fasilitas; dan laporan uji coba Pengelolaan Limbah B3, untuk kegiatan Pemanfaatan Limbah B3 dan/atau Pengolahan Limbah B3 yang mensyaratkan uji coba" (facility construction completion report for Hazardous Waste Management activities requiring facilities; and Hazardous Waste Management trial operation report for Utilization and/or Treatment activities requiring trials). Government agencies verify constructed facilities match approved designs and trial operations demonstrate technical adequacy before issuing operational feasibility letters.

Article 220(3) creates a special category for ocean dumping activities, requiring only technical approval without operational feasibility requirements: "Setiap Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan wajib Amdal atau UKL-UPL yang melakukan kegiatan Dumping (pembuangan) Limbah B3 wajib memiliki Persetujuan Teknis PLB3, tanpa disertai dengan kewajiban memiliki SLO-PLB3" (Every Business and/or Activity requiring AMDAL or UKL-UPL that conducts Dumping activities of B3 Waste must have Technical Approval PLB3, without accompanying obligation to have SLO-PLB3). This exception recognizes that ocean dumping operations occur without fixed facilities requiring construction verification and operational testing, enabling single-stage approval focused on dumping vessel specifications and environmental impact assessments.

Article 234(1) establishes the dual functions of operational feasibility letters: "SLO-PLB3 sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 232 ayat (1) huruf a dan Pasal 233 ayat (3) digunakan sebagai dasar dimulainya: a. kegiatan operasional Pengelolaan Limbah B3; dan b. pengawasan terhadap ketaatan penanggung jawab Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan dalam perizinan berusaha" (SLO-PLB3 as referred to in Article 232 paragraph (1) letter a and Article 233 paragraph (3) is used as the basis for commencing: a. operational activities of Hazardous Waste Management; and b. supervision of compliance responsibility for Business and/or Activity in business licensing). Operational feasibility letters simultaneously authorize operations and trigger government supervision authority, establishing the legal framework for both business operations and regulatory oversight. Matrix 1.1 below details the two-tier permitting framework with definitions, functions, and application timing.

Matrix 1.1: Two-Tier Permitting Framework for Hazardous Waste Management

2.0 Four Regulated Activities: Collection, Utilization, Treatment, and Disposal

Article 220(2) explicitly enumerates the four hazardous waste management activities requiring technical approval and operational feasibility licenses: "Kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3 sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) meliputi: a. Pengumpulan Limbah B3; b. Pemanfaatan Limbah B3; c. Pengolahan Limbah B3; dan d. Penimbunan Limbah B3" (Hazardous Waste Management activities as referred to in paragraph (1) include: a. Hazardous Waste Collection; b. Hazardous Waste Utilization; c. Hazardous Waste Treatment; and d. Hazardous Waste Disposal). These four activities represent Indonesia's regulatory categorization of commercial hazardous waste management operations requiring government pre-authorization before commencing operations.

Collection activities (Pengumpulan Limbah B3), defined in Article 1(17) as "kegiatan mengumpulkan Limbah B3 dari Penghasil Limbah B3 sebelum diserahkan kepada Pemanfaat Limbah B3, Pengolah Limbah B3, dan/atau Penimbun Limbah B3" (activity of collecting B3 Waste from B3 Waste Generators before transfer to B3 Waste Utilizers, B3 Waste Treaters, and/or B3 Waste Disposers), serve as consolidation points receiving hazardous waste from multiple generators before final management. Collectors operate intermediate facilities accumulating hazardous waste volumes to achieve economies of scale for utilization, treatment, or disposal operations. The regulation distinguishes between national-scale, provincial-scale, and regency/city-scale collection operations, with different government authorities responsible for issuing technical approvals based on operational scale.

Utilization activities (Pemanfaatan Limbah B3), defined in Article 1(18) as "kegiatan penggunaan kembali, daur ulang, dan/atau perolehan kembali yang bertujuan untuk mengubah Limbah B3 menjadi produk yang dapat digunakan sebagai substitusi bahan baku, bahan penolong, dan/atau bahan bakar yang aman bagi kesehatan manusia dan lingkungan hidup" (activity of reuse, recycling, and/or recovery aiming to transform B3 Waste into products usable as substitutes for raw materials, auxiliary materials, and/or fuel safe for human health and environment), convert hazardous waste into productive resources. Utilization operations include recovery of metals from industrial sludges, regeneration of spent solvents, and conversion of high-calorie hazardous waste into alternative fuels. These operations require specialized technical approval assessments verifying utilization processes safely transform hazardous waste without creating new environmental hazards.

Treatment activities (Pengolahan Limbah B3), defined in Article 1(19) as "proses untuk mengurangi dan/atau menghilangkan sifat bahaya dan/atau sifat racun" (process to reduce and/or eliminate hazardous characteristics and/or toxic properties), neutralize hazardous waste characteristics before disposal. Treatment operations employ physical, chemical, or biological processes to detoxify hazardous waste, including incineration for organic waste destruction, stabilization and solidification for heavy metal immobilization, and chemical neutralization for reactive waste treatment. Treatment facilities require technical approval demonstrating treatment processes achieve regulatory standards for residue characteristics before disposal authorization.

Disposal activities (Penimbunan Limbah B3), defined in Article 1(20) as "kegiatan menempatkan Limbah B3 pada fasilitas penimbunan dengan maksud tidak membahayakan kesehatan manusia dan lingkungan hidup" (activity of placing B3 Waste at disposal facilities with intent not to endanger human health and environment), provide permanent hazardous waste isolation from the biosphere. Disposal facilities employ engineered containment systems preventing hazardous waste migration into groundwater, surface water, or air. Article 1(33) defines disposal facilities as "Fasilitas Penimbusan Akhir Limbah B3 adalah fasilitas kegiatan Penimbunan Limbah B3 berupa lahan timbus yang telah memenuhi persyaratan teknis dan lingkungan" (Final B3 Waste Disposal Facility is B3 Waste Disposal activity facility in the form of landfill site that has fulfilled technical and environmental requirements). Matrix 2.1 below details the four regulated activities with definitions, operational focus, and regulatory requirements.

Matrix 2.1: Four Regulated Hazardous Waste Management Activities

3.0 Authority Distribution: Central, Provincial, and Regency/City Approvals

Article 221(1) establishes the three-tier government authority structure for issuing technical approvals: "Penanggung jawab Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan mengajukan permohonan Persetujuan Teknis sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 220 ayat (1) huruf a dan ayat (3) kepada: a. Menteri, untuk kegiatan: 1. Pengumpulan Limbah B3 skala nasional; 2. Pemanfaatan Limbah B3; 3. Pengolahan Limbah B3; 4. Penimbunan Limbah B3; dan 5. Dumping (pembuangan) Limbah B3; b. gubernur, untuk kegiatan Pengumpulan Limbah B3 skala provinsi; atau c. bupati/wali kota, untuk kegiatan Pengumpulan Limbah B3 skala kabupaten/kota" (Business and/or Activity coordinator submits Technical Approval application as referred to in Article 220 paragraph (1) letter a and paragraph (3) to: a. Minister, for activities: 1. National-scale B3 Waste Collection; 2. B3 Waste Utilization; 3. B3 Waste Treatment; 4. B3 Waste Disposal; and 5. B3 Waste Dumping; b. Governor, for provincial-scale B3 Waste Collection; or c. Regent/mayor, for regency/city-scale B3 Waste Collection).

The central government, through the Minister of Environment and Forestry, maintains exclusive authority over four activity categories plus national-scale collection operations. This centralized authority reflects the technical complexity and environmental significance of utilization, treatment, disposal, and ocean dumping operations requiring specialized regulatory expertise and consistent national standards. Article 223(2)(a) delegates implementation authority to the Director General responsible for hazardous waste management: "Menteri, menugaskan Direktur Jenderal" (Minister assigns the Director General). This delegation creates operational efficiency while maintaining ministerial oversight and accountability for technical approval decisions.

Provincial governments, led by governors, hold exclusive authority over provincial-scale hazardous waste collection operations. This intermediate authority level addresses collection activities serving multiple regencies or cities within single provinces but not requiring national-scale regulatory oversight. Provincial-scale collectors typically serve industrial zones spanning multiple regencies, receiving hazardous waste from generators across provincial jurisdictions before transferring consolidated waste to national-scale utilization, treatment, or disposal facilities. Article 223(2)(b) authorizes governors to delegate authority to environmental officials: "gubernur atau bupati/wali kota dapat menugaskan pejabat yang membidangi Lingkungan Hidup" (governors or regents/mayors may assign officials responsible for Environment).

Regency and city governments, led by regents and mayors, hold authority over local-scale hazardous waste collection operations serving single regency or city jurisdictions. This local authority enables responsive regulation of small-scale collectors serving localized generator communities, particularly important for micro and small enterprise waste accumulation. Local-scale collection operations typically serve industrial estates, commercial districts, or concentrated generator areas within single administrative boundaries. The three-tier authority structure prevents regulatory gaps while avoiding duplicative oversight, creating clear jurisdictional boundaries based on operational scale and service territory.

The authority distribution system creates operational implications for businesses planning collection operations—businesses must determine their intended service scale before identifying appropriate approval authorities. National-scale collectors planning multi-provincial operations submit applications to the Ministry, provincial-scale collectors planning multi-regency operations within single provinces submit applications to provincial governments, and local-scale collectors serving single regencies or cities submit applications to local governments. Article 228 requires each authority level to conduct evaluation and approval issuance for applications within their jurisdiction, with Article 229(1) mandating ten-day evaluation completion: "Evaluasi sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 228 ayat (1) huruf a dilakukan paling lama 10 (sepuluh) hari kerja sejak permohonan diterima" (Evaluation as referred to in Article 228 paragraph (1) letter a is conducted within maximum 10 (ten) working days from application receipt). Matrix 3.1 below details authority distribution with activity categories, approval authorities, and jurisdictional criteria.

Matrix 3.1: Authority Distribution for Technical Approval Issuance

4.0 Application Requirements: Technical Studies and Financial Guarantees

Article 222(1) establishes four core documentation requirements for technical approval applications: "Permohonan Persetujuan Teknis PLB3 sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 221 ayat (1) huruf a dilengkapi dengan: a. kajian teknis sesuai dengan kegiatan Pengelolaan Limbah B3; b. salinan bukti kepemilikan atas dana penjaminan untuk pemulihan fungsi Lingkungan Hidup yang masih berlaku dengan nilai pertanggungan paling sedikit senilai Rp.5.000.000.000,- (lima milyar rupiah); c. perhitungan biaya dan model keekonomian; dan d. salinan sertifikat kompetensi tenaga kerja di bidang Pengelolaan Limbah B3" (Technical Approval PLB3 application as referred to in Article 221 paragraph (1) letter a is completed with: a. technical study according to Hazardous Waste Management activity; b. copy of proof of ownership of environmental restoration financial guarantee that remains valid with coverage value of at least Rp.5,000,000,000 (five billion rupiah); c. cost calculation and economic model; and d. copy of workforce competency certificate in Hazardous Waste Management).

Technical studies (kajian teknis) constitute the core application document demonstrating technical adequacy of proposed hazardous waste management operations. These studies address activity-specific technical requirements, with content varying based on whether applications cover collection, utilization, treatment, or disposal operations. Technical studies for collection facilities document facility location, storage capacity, containment systems, safety procedures, and operational protocols. Utilization and treatment facility studies document process technology, equipment specifications, safety systems, emergency response procedures, residue management plans, and environmental monitoring programs. Disposal facility studies document engineered containment designs, liner systems, leachate collection and treatment systems, groundwater monitoring networks, and post-closure care plans.

The financial guarantee requirement in Article 222(1)(b) mandates minimum five billion rupiah coverage for environmental restoration should facility operations cause environmental damage requiring remediation. This provision implements the "polluter pays" principle, ensuring businesses secure financial capacity for environmental restoration before receiving operational authorization. The regulation specifies "dana penjaminan untuk pemulihan fungsi Lingkungan Hidup yang masih berlaku" (environmental restoration financial guarantee that remains valid), requiring businesses to maintain continuous financial guarantee validity throughout facility operations. Acceptable financial instruments include bank guarantees, insurance policies, or reserve accounts demonstrating five billion rupiah availability for environmental restoration purposes.

Article 222(2) creates a critical exemption for hazardous waste generators: "Persyaratan permohonan sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) huruf b, dan huruf c dikecualikan bagi Penghasil Limbah B3" (Application requirements as referred to in paragraph (1) letters b and c are excluded for B3 Waste Generators). This exemption recognizes that generators conducting on-site waste management do not require financial guarantees or economic models equivalent to commercial hazardous waste management facilities. Generators managing their own waste through on-site utilization or treatment facilities serving exclusively their own waste streams receive regulatory recognition of their different operational profiles compared to commercial facilities accepting third-party waste.

Article 222(3) requires economic feasibility documentation comprising two components: "Perhitungan biaya dan model keekonomian sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) huruf c paling sedikit memuat informasi: a. modal tetap; dan b. modal kerja" (Cost calculation and economic model as referred to in paragraph (1) letter c contains at minimum information: a. fixed capital; and b. working capital). This requirement demonstrates commercial viability of proposed operations, ensuring applicants possess sufficient capitalization to construct and operate hazardous waste management facilities meeting regulatory standards. Article 222(4) specifies standardized application formats: "Permohonan Persetujuan Teknis PLB3 dan kajian teknis disusun dengan menggunakan format sebagaimana tercantum dalam Lampiran XXIV dan Lampiran XXV yang merupakan bagian tidak terpisahkan dari Peraturan Menteri ini" (Technical Approval PLB3 application and technical study are compiled using formats as listed in Appendix XXIV and Appendix XXV which are inseparable parts of this Ministerial Regulation). Matrix 4.1 below details application requirements with document specifications and applicability conditions.

Matrix 4.1: Technical Approval Application Requirements

5.0 Integration with Environmental Approval and OSS Systems

Article 221(2) establishes the integration of technical approval applications with Environmental Approval processes: "Untuk Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan wajib Amdal, permohonan Persetujuan Teknis sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) dilakukan dengan cara: a. bersamaan dengan permohonan Persetujuan Lingkungan; atau b. permohonan tersendiri" (For Business and/or Activity requiring AMDAL, Technical Approval application as referred to in paragraph (1) is conducted through: a. simultaneous with Environmental Approval application; or b. separate application). This provision enables businesses to pursue concurrent processing of both approvals, eliminating sequential processing that previously extended project development timelines. Businesses preparing AMDAL documents can incorporate hazardous waste management technical studies into comprehensive AMDAL submissions, enabling government agencies to evaluate environmental impacts and hazardous waste management technical adequacy simultaneously.

Article 221(3) differentiates procedures for UKL-UPL activities: "Untuk Usaha dan/atau Kegiatan wajib UKL-UPL, permohonan Persetujuan Teknis PLB3 sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) dilakukan sebelum mengajukan permohonan Persetujuan Lingkungan" (For Business and/or Activity requiring UKL-UPL, Technical Approval PLB3 application as referred to in paragraph (1) is conducted before submitting Environmental Approval application). This sequential requirement for UKL-UPL activities reflects regulatory prioritization—businesses must first demonstrate technical adequacy of hazardous waste management plans through technical approval before environmental agencies evaluate broader environmental management commitments through UKL-UPL review. The sequential process prevents businesses from receiving environmental approval for inadequate hazardous waste management proposals.

Article 227 addresses technical approval modifications when facility designs or operational parameters change after initial approval: "Persetujuan Teknis sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 226 ayat (2) huruf a wajib diubah dalam hal terjadi perubahan persyaratan teknis" (Technical Approval as referred to in Article 226 paragraph (2) letter a must be changed when technical requirement changes occur). The provision enumerates specific changes triggering modification requirements, including location changes, facility design alterations, capacity modifications, waste type additions, technology changes, and input material modifications. Article 229(4) explicitly links technical approval modifications with Environmental Approval modifications: "Perubahan Persetujuan Teknis PLB3 sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (2) huruf a menjadi persyaratan perubahan Persetujuan Lingkungan" (Technical Approval PLB3 changes as referred to in paragraph (2) letter a become requirements for Environmental Approval changes). This provision maintains approval coordination—businesses cannot modify hazardous waste management facilities without corresponding Environmental Approval modifications.

Article 230(2) requires operational feasibility applications to include Environmental Approval documentation: "Penyampaian laporan sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) dilengkapi dengan salinan Persetujuan Lingkungan" (Report submission as referred to in paragraph (1) is completed with copy of Environmental Approval). This requirement verifies businesses maintain valid Environmental Approval before commencing hazardous waste management operations, preventing operational authorization for facilities without comprehensive environmental authorization. The integration creates legal coordination where hazardous waste management operational feasibility depends on Environmental Approval validity.

The regulation integrates with Indonesia's OSS (Online Single Submission) system through business licensing integration provisions. While PERMENLHK 6/2021 does not explicitly detail OSS system procedures, Article 3(3) of PP 22/2021 (the parent regulation) establishes that "Persetujuan Lingkungan menjadi prasyarat penerbitan Perizinan Berusaha" (Environmental Approval becomes prerequisite for Business Licensing issuance). Because PERMENLHK 6/2021 integrates technical approvals into Environmental Approval pathways, technical approvals automatically integrate with OSS business licensing processes. Businesses apply for Environmental Approval through OSS portals, incorporating hazardous waste management technical studies into Environmental Approval applications. Upon technical approval issuance, Environmental Approval processes proceed, ultimately enabling business license issuance through coordinated approval pathways. Matrix 5.1 below details integration provisions with Environmental Approval and OSS systems.

Matrix 5.1: Integration with Environmental Approval and OSS Systems

Conclusion

PERMENLHK 6/2021 establishes Indonesia's integrated permitting framework for hazardous and toxic waste management, consolidating eleven previously fragmented regulations into a unified system. The regulation's two-tier permitting structure—technical approval before facility construction and operational feasibility after construction completion—ensures government verification at both planning and operational stages. By integrating technical approvals into Environmental Approval pathways and coordinating with OSS business licensing systems, the regulation eliminates duplicative processes while maintaining rigorous environmental and safety standards for hazardous waste management facilities.

The regulation's authority distribution system creates clear jurisdictional boundaries, with central government maintaining exclusive control over utilization, treatment, disposal, and ocean dumping operations while provincial and local governments regulate collection operations at appropriate scales. Businesses planning hazardous waste management activities must determine applicable authority levels, prepare comprehensive technical studies demonstrating operational safety and environmental protection, secure minimum five billion rupiah financial guarantees for environmental restoration, and coordinate technical approval applications with Environmental Approval processes. Understanding PERMENLHK 6/2021's integrated permitting framework is essential for legal compliance and successful hazardous waste management facility development in Indonesia.

Regulation Reference

Full Citation:
Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2021 tentang Tata Cara dan Persyaratan Pengelolaan Limbah Bahan Berbahaya dan Beracun

English Translation:
Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2021 on Procedures and Requirements for Hazardous and Toxic Waste Management

Short Citation:
PERMENLHK 6/2021

Promulgation Date: April 1, 2021
Effective Date: April 1, 2021
Supersedes: Eleven previous regulations on hazardous waste management
Pages: 301

Official Sources:
- BPK Database: https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/211000/permen-lhk-no-6-tahun-2021
- JDIH KLHK: https://jdih.menlhk.go.id/new2/uploads/files/2021pmlhk006_menlhk_06082021104752.pdf

Legal Analysis by the CRPG Environmental Law Team | Analysis Date: November 26, 2025 | Regulation Effective: April 1, 2021

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, legal opinion, or professional consultation. The analysis presented herein is based on the authors' interpretation of PERMENLHK 6/2021 and related regulations as of the publication date and may contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies despite reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy. Laws and regulations are subject to amendment, judicial interpretation, and administrative clarification that may affect the applicability or interpretation of the provisions discussed. This article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the authors, the Center for Regulation, Policy and Government (CRPG), and any reader. Readers should not act or refrain from acting based solely on the information contained in this article without seeking appropriate legal counsel from qualified Indonesian legal practitioners licensed to practice environmental law. The application of hazardous waste management permitting requirements depends on specific factual circumstances including activity type, operational scale, facility location, waste characteristics, generator status, and Environmental Approval requirements, all of which require case-specific legal analysis. Neither the authors nor CRPG assume any liability for actions taken or not taken based on information in this article, nor for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of or reliance on this material. For specific legal guidance on hazardous waste management permitting requirements under PERMENLHK 6/2021, consult with qualified legal counsel familiar with Indonesian environmental and administrative law and current regulatory practice.

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