DLH Jakarta Clarifies Viral Photo of Rubbish Truck at Tanah Kusir Cemetery: Not Dumped into River

A photo circulating on social media depicted what appeared to be a vehicle marked with the Jakarta Environment Agency (DLH) dumping rubbish into the Pesanggrahan River at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. DLH Jakarta explained that there was no dumping of waste into water bodies. From the photo viewed by detikcom, the vehicle was labelled ‘UPK Badan Air Dinas Lingkungan Hidup Provinsi DKI Jakarta’. Residents suspected the vehicle was blocking the road and dumping rubbish near the river. The Head of the Water Body Waste Handling Unit (UPSBA) of DLH Jakarta, Dadang Cahya Rusdiana, clarified that the dump pickup truck’s activity in the post was part of official water body waste handling operations, not dumping into the river. Based on field investigations, the location is an official temporary containment point (emplacement) owned by UPSBA in the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery area, specifically in the Special Block. “We need to clarify that there is no dumping of waste into water bodies. The visible activity is the official temporary containment process for waste from water bodies, and all operations at the site are well-controlled with one heavy equipment unit in place and daily routine transport to the Perintis emplacement,” Dadang stated on Thursday (26/3/2026). Dadang explained that the point functions as a transit location for waste transported from rivers and reservoirs in the Pesanggrahan and Kebayoran Lama sub-districts. The waste is then transferred using small tipper trucks to the Perintis emplacement for further sorting by officers. “After sorting, residual waste is transported using large trucks with heavy equipment assistance before being sent to the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) for further processing,” he said. Dadang assessed that the circulating photo was likely taken from a roadside perspective, creating the perception that waste was being dumped into the river. “In reality, the activity is at a containment point managed by the Water Body Waste Handling Unit, and there is no dumping into water bodies,” he emphasised. He added that the narrow access road in the cemetery area prevents waste containers from being placed on site. Therefore, waste is temporarily placed under the embankment as a containment point before being transported using fleets suitable for field conditions, under strict control. “Although located near the Pesanggrahan River, all activities are conducted in designated areas and ensured not to contact water bodies,” he stated. “We ensure no waste enters water bodies. The site also collects tree topping residues from Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery by the Forestry and Garden Service (Distamhut). The location is equipped with HDPE floating cube barriers, and all management processes follow standard operating procedures (SOP),” Dadang concluded.