Agency to handle market trash

JAKARTA: As of Jan. 1, city market operator PD Pasar Jaya will hand over the management of the garbage produced by 151 traditional markets to the City Sanitation Agency.

PD Pasar Jaya spokesman Nurman Adhi said that 160 employees of the company -- who are currently tasked with collecting and picking up the garbage -- would be transferred to other divisions.

"There will be no dismissals," he said, adding that the decision was taken as part of the company's efforts to focus on its core business as market operator.

According to Adhi, PD Pasar Jaya currently spends 10 billion per year to handle garbage, much higher than paying the sanitation agency Rp 15,000 per ton of garbage in tipping fees.

He said that the company would soon auction off its 65 garbage trucks. -- Antara