Pramono Restricts Waste Shipments to Bantargebang Following Landslide
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has announced measures to restrict waste shipments to the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST Bantargebang) in Ciketing Udik Village, Bekasi City, West Java, following a severe landslide that occurred recently.
Pramono explained that limited storage capacity is the primary reason the provincial government must urgently overhaul its waste disposal scheme. “Bantargebang must begin to have restrictions implemented because its storage capacity is already extremely limited,” Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday (9/3).
“In the interim, whilst awaiting the completion of Zone 4A, Zones 3 and 2 are being prepared as temporary zones. They are not permanent,” he added.
According to Pramono, this decision was taken given that the facility’s storage capacity has reached maximum threshold amid Jakarta’s daily waste volume of 8,000 tonnes. “Currently, our waste ranges daily between 7,400 and 8,000 tonnes. The 8,000 figure is typical at weekends. There will certainly be impacts. To address this, we will implement waste sorting at the source,” he said.
Pramono committed to executing central government instructions to reduce waste volume through stricter sorting procedures before disposal. “I will ensure waste sorting is implemented. Not all waste needs to be sent to Bantargebang or other waste facilities. Currently, almost none of it is separated before being sent to Bantargebang,” Pramono stated.
“The Jakarta Provincial Government, in accordance with the Ministry of Environment’s guidance, will implement separation procedures,” he added.
Compensation for Victims
Pramono also guaranteed compensation and medical treatment coverage for all victims of the waste landslide at the Bantargebang facility. Regarding victim entitlements, Pramono detailed that compensation would be provided comprehensively.
“The Jakarta Provincial Government ensures that victims who died, who were Civil Contract Workers of the Environmental Service, will receive compensation from the Labour Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan). Medical treatment costs for those injured will be fully covered by the Jakarta Provincial Government,” Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall on Monday (9/3).
Pramono confirmed that the incident claimed four lives. “Four people died—two drivers, one woman aged 60 who sold goods, and one waste collector, also female. So two men and two women,” he said.
Pramono identified extreme rainfall on Sunday (8/3) as the primary trigger for the waste material collapse in Zone 4A. He stressed that this tragedy is a serious concern for the provincial administration.
“The landslide in Zone 4A occurred at 14:30, reportedly triggered by extreme rainfall on Sunday, which caused the operational road and a 40-metre stretch of Ciketing River to be covered with waste,” Pramono said.
Regarding operational response measures, Pramono explained that current priorities are worker safety and restoration of the operational route that was blocked by landslide material. He noted that all inter-agency resources have been deployed since the first day of the incident.
“The Jakarta Environmental Service immediately activated emergency response operations from yesterday to ensure worker safety, manage victims, and stabilise the area so that waste management services can be swiftly restored,” Pramono said.
To maintain smooth distribution of the capital’s waste, temporary operations have been redirected to Zone 3. Pramono confirmed coordination with the Environment Minister to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of waste pile heights that are vulnerable to sliding due to weather factors.
“Waste shipments to Bantargebang are being minimised, operations are being diverted to Zone 3, and two new sites are being prepared whilst cleanup efforts continue,” Pramono said.