'Put recycling in the curriculum'

The capital faces a mounting garbage problem, with Jakarta producing more than 6,000 tons of garbage a day, with the administration yet to find a solution for how to process and where to put the waste. In observance of World Environment Day on June 5, The Jakarta Post asked residents about their views on recycling.

Wiwiek, 32, is a part-time teacher at several schools in Jakarta. She lives with her husband and children in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta:

I notice that the city administration already has problems dealing with garbage. They now seem confused about where to throw a such huge amount of waste. For a long time, I think they have struggled alone with little help from residents.

How often do people think about their garbage? Very rarely, I guess -- we continue to throw it out every day without any concern about where it all goes.

That's why the campaign to recycle is very important here. By reusing our old things, instead of quickly dumping them, we lessen pollution, and thus, help the lift the city administration's burden.

Zulfah, 25, is a new graduate from a private university in Jakarta. She lives in Kebon Baru, Tebet, South Jakarta:

As I believe that the main causes of our garbage problem is the lack of awareness, we must start now by educating our children about the right way of dealing with garbage before it is too late.

Old people are hard to reeducate and they tend to take everything for granted. If we succeed teaching our children, then we can hope that they will deal better with the garbage flood.

I propose that subjects such as garbage recycling and creating appliances from used materials be introduced in the school curriculum.

--The Jakarta Post