Mataram Environmental Agency Overwhelmed in Hauling Rubbish from Sandubaya TPS Due to Limited Fleet

More than 10,000 tonnes of rubbish are still piling up at the Temporary Disposal Site (TPS) Sandubaya in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). As a result, the stench of rubbish can be smelled as far as the road areas and residents’ settlements.

The Mataram City Environmental Agency (DLH) admits to being overwhelmed in transporting rubbish from TPS Sandubaya to the Final Disposal Site (TPA) Kebon Kongok in West Lombok. Besides TPS Sandubaya, rubbish accumulation is also still occurring at TPS Bintaro and Ampenan in Mataram City.

“From the opening of TPA Kebon Kongok, give me a month to clean TPS Bintaro. Now the rubbish there is only a quarter left. After Bintaro is finished, we will move to Sandubaya,” said the Head of DLH Mataram City, Nizar Denny Cahyadi, on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

Nizar said that the slow process of disposing of rubbish from TPS in Mataram to TPA Kebon Kongok is caused by the limited number of transport vehicles. Out of 34 vehicles owned, eight are still under maintenance at the workshop.

“So only 26 units are operating. Ideally, we should have around 50 vehicles. We are trying to request assistance from Bank NTB Syariah to provide two more vehicles, dump trucks or pickups,” Nizar added.

Nizar acknowledged that currently there are around 10,000 tonnes of rubbish still piling up at TPS Sandubaya, Mataram. He promised to address the situation after the rubbish handling in Bintaro is completed.

Although there is rubbish accumulation at TPS Sandubaya, Nizar said that nearby residents can still dispose of rubbish through mobile TPS. He assured that there are no more three-wheeled vehicles dumping rubbish into TPS Sandubaya because it is immediately transported using dump trucks.