Jakarta's garbage problem

Jakarta's garbage problem

From Neraca

Jakarta's garbage averages 21,000 cubic meters a day. Fifteen
percent of that, i.e. 4,000 to 5,000 cubic meters, remains
uncollected. The accumulation of garbage is a growing problem for
the Jakarta Administration.

The uncollected garbage, however, is processed by the Public
Works office into fertilizer or disappears naturally and turns
into soil.

Nevertheless, if the garbage is left to accumulate, it will
become an acute problem for environmental sanitation. The
accumulation of garbage is partly due to an increasing number of
garbage trucks breaking down.

Moreover, I have observed that the handling of garbage in
Jakarta is far from effective and efficient. It is still very
traditional.

Some time ago, the Jakarta Administration launched
sophisticated trucks which could process the garbage into compact
packages. A pity that many of these expensive trucks are in
disrepair due to lack of maintenance.

One important thing to be solved in garbage handling in
Jakarta and other cities is the quality of cleaning personnel.
This does not mean that they are not dedicated. Their dedication
is high. The problem is in the understanding and mastery of
technology.

With some funds and training, they will become a reliable task
force for the control of environmental cleanliness. Support and
understanding from the community is also needed. For example.
people should be willing to spend some money to buy plastic bags
for household garbage to avoid it scattering everywhere.

ABDILLAH KAMIL

Jakarta