Illegal Rubbish Dump in Angke Flats to be Transformed into Park
An empty plot that has been used as an illegal rubbish dump in the Angke public housing complex (Rusun) in Tambora, West Jakarta, will be transformed into a park.
This step is being prepared as a long-term solution so that the area in the middle of the residential neighbourhood, which was once buried under piles of rubbish, will no longer be used as a dumping site.
The Head of the Environmental Unit (Kasatpel LH) for Tambora sub-district, Harun Agustin, said that his team had submitted a proposal for the site’s redevelopment to the sub-district government.
Harun hopes that by building the park, residents will dispose of their rubbish at the official dumping site located at the front of the complex.
The area will then be utilised as a public facility, including a children’s play space.
He explained that the proliferation of illegal dumping spots in the area was triggered by the separated management of the Rusunawa and Rusunami sections.
Rusunawa is managed by the Public Housing Management Unit (UPRS), while Rusunami is under the management of the local neighbourhood association (RW).
“This is each one’s territorial ego. For Rusunawa, it’s directly under UPRS; for Rusunami, it’s the RW. ‘This is my area’, so they dump it here. In that area, there are four dumping points all the way to the dead end,” Harun explained.
This situation makes it difficult for officers because large rubbish collection trucks cannot enter the narrow alleys inside the residential area.
Harun stated that his team had previously gathered the UPRS managers and local RW to consolidate the dumping points at the front area bordering the main road for easy truck access.
“Yesterday, it was said that non-residents from RW 3 also dumped there because there’s a small road access. The point is, no more territorial egos. If it’s one point at the front, our vehicles can manoeuvre easily, rather than forcing them to go inside,” he said.
He added that socialisation to residents had already been conducted to stop dumping in that location, but it has not been effective.
“We’ve done socialisation with UPRS and RW, but in the end, it’s still there. They still dump there, it keeps piling up, even though it’s actually not a rubbish site, just an empty house,” he said.
However, the realisation of the project will still require time and budget, so careful planning is needed.