Problem of garbage

Problem of garbage

After a very relaxing weekend in Puncak, I returned to Jakarta thankful for such simple pleasures as fresh air and exercise. However, while walking through a beautifully manicured tea plantation, I was saddened to see how much garbage was lying on the ground. There were discarded plastic bags, bottles, food wrappings and aluminum cans as far as the eye could see.

I am no authority on environmental issues, but it seems to me that such exposed, non-biodegradable waste material is harmful to man and nature in at least three ways:

* It contaminates both soil and crops.

* It represents a health hazard due to the rotting food and dirty containers.

* It destroys the beauty and harmony of the areas.

In order to prevent such areas from being overrun by garbage, I would like to request the following: Could 1) local authorities clean unsanitary areas and place garbage bins at convenient locations in the tea plantations; 2) workers, residents and visitors carry a bag to dispose of their garbage until they reach a garbage bin, instead of simply throwing it on the ground; 3) the press write a series on the hazards of uncollected non- biodegradable waste material, the importance of sorting and recycling it and the means currently used in Jakarta for waste disposal and recycling.

I am particularly interested in knowing how households and businesses can incorporate recycling into their day-to-day life. I know there are bins outside Kemchicks Supermarket in Kemang for recycling glass, plastic water bottles and aluminum. Could more of these be provided throughout the city, together with similar bins for recycling newspapers, magazines, and plastic in general?

Are there companies which collect and recycle waste paper from businesses? It's frightening the amount of paper the smallest company throws away in a day.

I would appreciate any further information on these matters.

Name and address

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