Aftermath of Viral Video, Jakarta Environmental Agency Shuts Down Tanah Kusir Landfill

The Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov DKI Jakarta) has shut down operations at the emplasemen, or temporary waste storage site, in the river body within the Tanah Kusir public cemetery area, South Jakarta. This action follows public scrutiny that went viral regarding waste dumping activities at the location. Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH), Asep Kuswanto, confirmed that the emplasemen has been officially closed permanently as of Friday (27/3). “Starting today, we are closing the emplasemen at Tanah Kusir public cemetery. Next, we will carry out repairs and arrangements, including the gradual closure of other emplasements along riverbanks,” Asep stated in his remarks on Friday (27/3). Public attention to this emplasemen arose after a video circulated on social media showing garbage trucks dumping loads in an area within the river flow. The public questioned this practice as it was deemed potentially polluting to the environment. Asep explained that from the beginning, the emplasemen was intended as a temporary storage site for waste from river cleaning, not household waste. This system has been in place since 2014 to speed up waste transportation from river flow areas in Pesanggrahan, Kebayoran Baru, to Kebayoran Lama. However, he acknowledged that on-site management needs improvement to avoid negative public perceptions. “The existence of this emplasemen is to accelerate waste handling in water bodies. But its management will continue to be evaluated to make it more organised and environmentally friendly,” he said. As a follow-up, DLH is diverting waste management from that location to the waste screening facility on TB Simatupang, which is considered more appropriate. Asep emphasised that the river waste control system will still be optimised through the installation of barriers to prevent waste from flowing back into the water body before being transported to land. “We ensure that lifted waste does not re-pollute the river. The barrier system will continue to be maximised,” he asserted. If needed, DLH will carry out re-arrangements by adding boundary fences and using covered containers. This step aims to minimise environmental impacts while increasing transparency in waste management. The agency is also open to the gradual closure of other emplasements along riverbanks as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the waste system. On the other hand, the location has also been used by the Parks and City Forestry Agency to store waste from tree pruning before it is transported to final processing facilities such as the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST).