Indonesia's Public Works Ministry announced on Monday that it is building 375 sanitation facilities across North Sumatra in 2026 under a community-based infrastructure program. ^[1] Research published in the International Journal of Tourism Anthropology argues that rural communities with limited public services may need locally governed waste systems rather than relying solely on municipal services. ^[2] Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said the Community-Based Infrastructure (IBM) program was a priority because its benefits could be felt directly by communities through basic facilities and local employment. ^[3] The 2026 IBM Sanitation Program in North Sumatra covers Community-Based Sanitation (Sanimas) and Sanitation for Religious Educational Institutions (LPK). ^[4] The 375 sanitation facilities are being built across Deli Serdang District, Serdang Bedagai District, Medan City, Tebing Tinggi City, Simalungun District and Padang Lawas District. ^[5] The researchers found that illegal dumping and littering in Kampung Nipah, a coastal tourism hamlet in North Sumatra, Indonesia, are linked to inadequate infrastructure, established cultural practices, weak collective responsibility, and the absence of an institution responsible for managing waste across the wider village. ^[6] The team explained that government waste collection services do not reach the Kampung Nipah area, while waste from residents, tourists and rivers can accumulate along the coast. ^[7] The team proposes a community-based waste management model centered on local champions, residents who take an active leadership role and work alongside tourism managers and other stakeholders to change the waste culture. ^[8]