Mounting Rubbish at Illegal Waste Site in North Tambun, Bekasi, Odour Detectable from Afar
In Bekasi, a mound of rubbish at an illegal waste disposal site (TPS) in Satria Jaya Village, North Tambun District, Bekasi Regency, is being complained about by residents due to its increasing size and the pungent odour it produces.
The condition is deemed to disrupt environmental comfort and potentially trigger health issues for the surrounding community.
Kompas.com observations at the location revealed a mountain of rubbish filling an open area by the roadside near residential areas.
Some rubbish appears dried and rotting, emitting a strong odour detectable from quite a distance. Burn marks from rubbish incineration are also visible at several points.
Local resident Murjaya (46) said he has known about the rubbish pile since around 2015. However, he noted that the current condition is far worse than before.
“Previously, the rubbish wasn’t this much. Now it’s a lot,” said Murjaya when met by Kompas.com at the site on Sunday (26/4/2026).
Murjaya stated that the most noticeable impact is the unpleasant, pungent smell, especially in the mornings. He is also concerned that the dirty environment could trigger diseases among residents.
“Of course the smell is very disturbing. Residents are also afraid of getting sick because the environment is this dirty,” he said.
According to Murjaya, the accumulated rubbish at the site is suspected not to come from local residents. He believes the dumping is done secretly, particularly at night.
Similar complaints were voiced by Putra (28), a resident who often passes by the road. He said he is bothered by the rubbish-filled environment, with some piles even spilling onto the road surface.
“Sometimes the rubbish reaches the road too. So when passing by, it feels uncomfortable and confusing why there’s a rubbish pile near residential areas and the roadside,” said Putra.
He mentioned that the pungent smell from the rubbish pile makes him uncomfortable, especially when passing in the mornings. Putra hopes the village or regency government will soon take action to clean and regulate the site.
“Hopefully the village or regency government can quickly remove the rubbish there, as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kompas.com has contacted Dedi Kurniawan, Spokesperson for the Bekasi Regency Environmental Agency, for comment on the situation. However, as of this article’s publication, no response has been received.