Carts, Scrap, and Hope: Portrait of Life in Depok's Scavenger Settlement
In Depok, at the end of Jalan Kampung Melati in the Sukmajaya district, stands a settlement inhabited by scrap collectors. The settlement, known as Kampung Melati or the “Scavenger Settlement”, is tucked away behind gated residential complexes and borders the Ciliwung River.
When Kompas.com visited the location on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, Kampung Pemulung appeared quiet and subdued. Semi-permanent structures with light steel roofing and plywood boards serve as residences. Piles of scrap materials are visible in every yard—cardboard, tin cans, and plastic bottles among them.
The only road, measuring just 2–3 metres wide, serves as the sole access route and silent witness to the daily activity of residents pulling carts laden with scrap goods.
The settlement’s history dates to the early 1990s when migrants continuously arrived seeking work, predominantly from East and Central Java. According to Sumanto, the local neighbourhood association leader, the settlement has grown steadily since then.
“Those who came were mostly scrap collectors. So people here weren’t very numerous, and the scrap collectors were migrants,” Sumanto explained when met by Kompas.com.
Kampung Melati became a strategic base for migrants to seek their fortunes. Over time, the settlement grew denser as more migrants settled permanently.
“Initially, when migrants came, they would eventually return to their home villages. But when they came back, they would often bring relatives who were unemployed in their home villages to try their luck in the city,” Sumanto said.
The settlement now hosts nearly 150 to 200 registered families, according to Sumanto, with the majority working as scrap collectors—gathering plastic, metal, and other recyclable materials for resale.
“Whatever people give us, we collect and then sell,” Sumanto explained.
Some residents have begun transitioning to other work such as laundry services or ride-hailing services.
“We have about 150 families now. Back in the day, when everyone was actively collecting, we could reach 200-odd families. Now they’re starting to look for other kinds of work,” said Sumanto.
Every day, residents traverse residential streets and housing complexes, pulling their carts in search of scrap materials with resale value.