One Landslide at TPST, One City Overwhelmed: Vulnerabilities in Jakarta's Waste Management

Disruptions at a single waste management point can have widespread impacts on the entire system. This was evident in Jakarta when a landslide occurred at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), triggering queues for waste transport and accumulation in various areas, much to the chagrin of residents. However, the problem did not end there. Limited transport fleet capacity further exacerbated the situation, leading to build-ups. Ali (40), one of the TPS Jatinegara staff, said that waiting times, normally just 10 to 30 minutes, had spiked dramatically. “Sometimes we leave at 03.00 and don’t get out until the afternoon because of the queue,” he said on Monday (30/3/2026). He noted that the long queues were due to the landslide at TPST Bantargebang, which hindered the final disposal process. As a result, the flow of transport trucks became congested. Pulung (39), another staff member, experienced something similar, claiming to have queued for up to five hours once. The cart queues even stretched 50 to 70 metres. “The vehicles are late arriving because of the jam at Bantargebang for disposal,” said Pulung. Although the situation is now gradually returning to normal, the incident highlights obstacles in the waste distribution chain from TPS to the final disposal site. The local RW chairman, Ninu Hadi Purwanto, mentioned that rubbish heights reached two to four metres. “Today it’s piling up like this because no trucks are coming to the TPS,” he said. According to him, cleaning staff have no choice but to stockpile rubbish temporarily to keep services running for residents. “Otherwise, residents will complain. So the only temporary solution is to pile it up while waiting for the trucks,” said Hadi. He also revealed constraints at Bantargebang. Trucks that are already loaded cannot immediately unload their cargo, so they have to return without offloading. Consequently, the volume of rubbish at TPS continues to increase, disrupting access roads around the site, including areas near public cemeteries. Residents have complained about the unpleasant smell that disrupts daily activities.