Pungent-Smelling Rubbish Under Tanjung Priok Toll Road Deters Customers from Lingering at Nearby Warung

A pile of rubbish at the Kencana temporary collection point (TPS) in Sungai Bambu, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, is emitting a strong unpleasant odour. Nur (55), a trader near the location, said the rubbish smell is severely disrupting her business activities under the Wiyoto Wiyono toll road. “We’re traders too, it affects us. People don’t want to hang around for coffee,” Nur told Kompas.com on Tuesday (31/3/2026). According to her, the rubbish accumulation has been ongoing for quite some time and shows no signs of being resolved. “It never gets cleared. This has been going on for days, it never ends,” she said. Suyitno (50), a resident living near the TPS, echoed similar sentiments. He said the rubbish smell often triggers complaints from nearby residents. “Yes, it’s true, the smell. The impact is that the community is up in arms,” Suyitno said when met by Kompas.com on Tuesday. According to him, the situation has residents continuously questioning the waste handling, which they deem suboptimal. Residents hope the waste issue at the TPS will be addressed soon. Suyitno even asked Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung to visit the location directly. “That’s why the Governor should come down here, not just receive reports from his subordinates,” he added.