Bantar Gebang closure brings joy to residents

Bantar Gebang closure brings joy to residents

Theresa Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bekasi

Ani's eyes blinked in joy when she was asked how she felt
about the Bekasi administration's decision to close Bantar Gebang
refuse dump this weekend.

"We have been in a state of cohabitation with all manner of
disease-bearing vermin and flies emanating from the dump for the
past 12 years. It's abhorrent, and we were virtually powerless to
take the necessary steps required for relocating the site," said
Ani, a 31-year-old woman who owns a food stall in the area.

"We are euphoric because as of Monday, there will not be any
more trucks discarding refuse here," she added.

Not too far from Ani's food stall, tons of garbage was seen
piled in and around the 104-hectare dump.

An appalling stench hung heavily in the air while hundreds of
flies were seen flying over and around the area, as well as
inside the food stall. A great many flies even had the audacity
to land on the plates of food.

However, a number of customers ignored the insects and seemed
to enjoy their meals and their coffee as most residents have
grown accustomed to the situation.

"The smell and the noise produced by the hundreds of trucks
passing by everyday causes us great suffering. We are happy that
the dump will be closed," said Atikah, 38, a housewife, adding
that many residents had suffered from health problems because of
the dump.

At least 400 trucks come and go to the dump each day,
according to an employee of the City Sanitation Office who is
stationed at the site. He said that, beginning on Sunday at
midnight, the dump would stop all operations - unless the
Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the closure to be delayed.

While most residents were overjoyed by the planned closure,
thousands of self-employed recyclers who are dependent on the
trash for their income have to find another dump if they do not
want to lose their jobs.

"I make a living by collecting cardboard here. If the dump is
closed. It's not a problem. We will move to the new site," Asep.
40, said.

The Bekasi administration decided to close the Bantar Gebang
site following a recommendation from the council and a team which
evaluated it, due to the environmental damage.

In compensation for the damage, Jakarta gave Bekasi Rp 2.5
billion this year. Last year, it received Rp 1.5 billion.

"It is nothing compared to the impact caused by the garbage,"
head of the team to evaluate the dump, Hasnul Kholid Pasaribu,
said on Wednesday.

"Money would not solve the problem," he added.

In addition to the environmental damage, many residents living
near the Bantar Gebang dump also suffer from respiratory
problems, continual diarrhea, and various skin ailments.