Explanation from West Jakarta Environmental Agency on Rubbish Build-up in Kalianyar

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta City Government (Pemkot Jakbar) has acknowledged the causes of rubbish accumulation at several temporary disposal sites (TPS) in the area, including Jalan Kali Kanal Banjir Barat (KBB) in Kalianyar, due to quota restrictions on waste dumping at the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST). “There is a quota restriction on dumping at Bantar Gebang because it is being reorganised following the landslide the other day,” said the Head of the West Jakarta Environmental Agency (Sudin LH), Achmad Hariadi, when contacted in Jakarta on Monday night. According to him, since the landslide incident on 8 March, the quota for waste transport to the TPST has been limited—from 308 trucks per day previously to 190 trucks now. “That means around 118 trucks of rubbish cannot be transported there each day,” Hariadi said. Nevertheless, Hariadi noted that residents continue to generate daily waste, including those in Kalianyar, Tambora. TPS sites, which should only serve as depots for rubbish from carts before truck collection, have instead become dumping spots for the public. “This has led to build-up. For Kalianyar, if household waste is held back and not disposed of because there is no TPS, residents end up using the riverside as a TPS. But that is actually a depot TPS,” Hariadi explained. Regarding requests for a TPS in the area, Hariadi adheres to Governor’s Instruction number 6 of 2014 on TPS location plans in Jakarta. “So, the location of TPS is not determined by the Sudin LH or the implementing unit (Satpel). The TPS points are determined based on Ingub number 6 of 2014 by community consultation forums,” Hariadi said. As for the viral rubbish piles at the site, Hariadi stated that his side has taken action, so there is no longer any accumulation. “There was some on the bridge and near the railway tracks, and all of that has now been cleared and resolved,” Hariadi emphasised. Previously, residents had protested, including through banners rejecting the existence of a temporary waste disposal site (TPS) on the road beside Kali Kanal Banjir Barat (KBB) in Kalianyar, Tambora, West Jakarta. “Yes, that (banner) was put up by residents because the rubbish wasn’t collected for a long time and clearly disturbed the community. It even caused traffic jams because of its location on the road,” said the Chairman of RT 12 RW 01 Kalianyar, M. Toyib. The lack of land has forced some residents to use the roadside as a temporary dumping site, sparking rejection from other locals. “Our residents indeed reject dumping rubbish there again. Because it’s on the road, not the proper place,” Toyib stressed. According to him, this situation has persisted for a long time. Residents hope for the relocation of the TPS to a more appropriate location, such as along the riverbank in the vicinity. However, without adequate facilities, the waste problem is seen as likely to recur. “Rather than on the road, it’s better to have a TPS on the riverbank. We’ve already proposed it and even written to the relevant agency. It just needs studies and involvement from all parties,” he explained.