Jakarta Government Cracks Down on Illegal Waste Dumping with Fines and Sanctions
The Jakarta provincial government is intensifying supervision and taking firm action against the chain of illegal waste dumping and stockpiling. Law enforcement and an evaluation of governance from upstream to downstream are being carried out to protect the environment and realise sustainable sanitation for the capital. Governor Pramono Anung made this assertion while responding to residents’ complaints regarding piles of rubbish on public land. “I have ordered the Environmental Agency (DLH) to cooperate with the Communication, Informatics and Statistics Agency to immediately remove and clean up the waste. Wherever there is a pile of rubbish, the Jakarta Provincial Government will move quickly,” Pramono stated.
He explained that large-scale accumulation, such as that found at the Penjaringan Green Open Space (RTH) in North Jakarta, was triggered by the illegal practices of a private area manager who stockpiled waste along a 700-metre stretch of public land. The Jakarta Provincial Government subsequently deployed 10 DLH trucks and heavy equipment from the Water Resources Agency (SDA) for the clean-up. “We have issued a stern warning to the private party that stockpiled the waste. This act must not be repeated. If they remain stubborn, we will take action in accordance with legal provisions,” he said, also urging the public to report any waste accumulation in their neighbourhoods immediately via the Jaki application.
These provisions are regulated in Jakarta Governor Regulation Number 102 of 2021 concerning Waste Management Obligations in Areas and Companies. The regulation stipulates tiered sanctions, ranging from written warnings and publication of the polluting company’s name on the official website to permit suspension and revocation. Beyond the Penjaringan RTH, the Jakarta Provincial Government also took firm action against an illegal waste disposal chain on Jalan H Tabah, Dukuh Urban Village, Kramat Jati District, East Jakarta. An investigation found three residents involved in the collection and transportation of illegal construction waste. The three perpetrators were subjected to administrative sanctions in the form of a fine of Rp5 million each, in accordance with Article 130 paragraph (1) letter d of Jakarta Regional Regulation Number 3 of 2013 on Waste Management.
“Law enforcement will continue to be carried out consistently as part of efforts to realise orderly and sustainable waste management,” said Head of the Jakarta Communication, Informatics and Statistics Agency, Marulina Dewi. She noted that transporting and disposing of waste in locations not designated for waste management is not a minor violation. Such practices can pollute the environment, disturb residents’ comfort, and increase the risk of health problems and fires, thus requiring firm action. This law enforcement aims to build compliance while preventing repeat violations. Waste must be sorted and managed according to regulations, not dumped in undesignated locations. “We invite residents, business actors, contractors, and transport service providers to manage waste responsibly through official facilities. The Jakarta Provincial Government will not tolerate illegal waste disposal practices that harm the environment and the community,” she said.
Firm steps were also taken against a private transport service provider, PT Sinar Berdikari Cemerlang Idaman (SBCI). The company was proven to have illegally dumped waste on Jalan Reformasi, Cilincing, North Jakarta, after a video of the activity went viral on social media. Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency, Dudi Gardesi, stated that his party is tightening supervision of waste transport fleets. “Every transport service provider has the responsibility to ensure that the waste they carry is taken to proper facilities and managed according to regulations. If violations are found, we will take action,” he said. The Jakarta Provincial Government wants to ensure that the entire waste transport chain operates in an orderly manner. No party should collect waste from residents or businesses only to dump it carelessly. Head of the DLH’s Supervision and Legal Compliance Division, Helmy Zulhidayat, added that PT SBCI was fined a compulsory payment of Rp10 million and received a first written warning. “Every finding will be investigated and every violation will be dealt with according to the rules. The goal is not merely to impose sanctions, but to ensure that illegal dumping practices cease and waste management in Jakarta becomes more orderly.”