ORI DIY Findings on Alleged Environmental Pollution from Sokowaten 3R Waste Site

The Ombudsman Republic of Indonesia (ORI) Representative for DIY directly inspected the activities at the TPS 3R in Padukuhan Sokowaten, Tamanan, Bantul, today. This followed complaints from residents about the site’s alleged environmental pollution.

The Head of the ORI DIY Representative, Muflihul Hadi, explained that the team descended today alongside the residents’ legal representatives and SLBN 2 Bantul from IDEA, WALHI, and LBH. They requested additional data and documents, including confirming reports and gathering other information from residents, the school, and the TPS 3R site.

“We met with the school, surrounding residents, and parents today with IDEA, WALHI, and LBH to request data and documents, confirm reports, and dig for other information,” said Muflihul when contacted by reporters on Tuesday (21/4/2026).

He explained that after obtaining data from residents, the team proceeded to the TPS 3R site. From the monitoring results, some rubbish had already been cleared.

“According to statements from residents, the school, and parents, the smell today was not as pungent as usual, for the short term,” he said.

Nevertheless, there are still issues that need to be addressed and resolved, particularly regarding the TPS 3R site’s location adjacent to the school.

“For the long term, regarding the location close to the school, we will discuss and seek solutions with the Bantul Regency government,” he said.

In addition to the odour problem, the team also checked the condition of residents’ wells. In the complaint submitted yesterday, it was claimed that residents’ wells were contaminated, allegedly from the waste processing site.

Preliminary findings revealed one well with murky water. However, residents still use the well water for bathing. Nevertheless, this needs further investigation to determine if the murkiness is due to insufficient depth or proximity to the river.

“We also checked residents’ wells around the TPS 3R today. There is one building or house with murky water but no odour, and it has been used for daily needs like bathing with no problems,” he clarified.

At the TPS site, the ORI team also found remnants of burning, which according to TPS 3R staff were done by residents, not the staff.

Another finding was piles of rubbish on the riverbank, which have the potential to pollute and make the river shallow.

“At the site, there was a trial of the incinerator machine, so it is hoped that if it runs smoothly, all incoming rubbish after sorting will be burned by the machine, thus not causing pungent smells,” he explained.

Furthermore, ORI DIY will schedule a meeting with relevant parties for further clarification.

“We will discuss it in the next meeting with the Environmental Agency and related parties. We plan for next week,” he concluded.

Previously reported, representatives from Padukuhan Sokowaten residents, Tamanan, Bantul, along with SLBN 2 Bantul, lodged a complaint with the ORI DIY Representative regarding alleged environmental pollution from TPS 3R activities. The complaint was filed because the pollution impacts were deemed to disrupt residents’ health and teaching activities at the school.

IDEA Executive Director and legal representative for residents and the school, Ahmad Hedar, said the pollution impacts had been felt for a long time but were only now reported officially as the conditions were considered increasingly severe.

“So far, they have been holding it in, including many soft efforts like lobbying through the Education Agency, the Environmental Agency, and even the village office,” said Hedar when met at the ORI DIY Representative office in Depok, Sleman, on Monday (20/4).

He explained that the pollution comes from burning residues at TPS 3R. The impacts disrupt teaching activities at SLBN 2 Bantul.

“The residues from rubbish burning happen almost every day. Before this, the frequency has somewhat decreased,” he clarified.