Putri Cempo Scavengers Protest Waste Volume Drop in Solo
Putri Cempo Scavengers Protest Waste Volume Drop in Solo
Reporter
September 1, 2026 | 10:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents living near the Putri Cempo Landfill in Surakarta, Central Java, are demanding guaranteed access to economically valuable waste. They believe that a citywide waste sorting policy, which reduces the volume of waste entering the site, has eroded the income of local scavengers.
Representatives of local residents and the Putri Cempo Scavengers Alliance voiced their demands during a protest at Surakarta City Hall on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. “Our core demands rest on three pillars: the economy, health, and the environment,” Putri Cempo Scavengers Alliance Chairperson Karni told reporters following the demonstration.
According to alliance data, 371 individuals earn a living by sorting waste within the Putri Cempo Landfill grounds. The group comprises 278 recyclables collectors and 93 individuals who gather organic waste for livestock feed.
Karni stated that scavenger earnings have plummeted alongside the shrinking volume of marketable waste reaching the landfill. Whereas workers previously collected five to 10 sacks of waste daily, they now average only one to three.
He attributed this drop to upstream waste sorting, limits placed on garbage transport fleets, and regulations mandating waste processing prior to landfill disposal.
In addition to economic grievances, residents from neighboring units or RW 39 raised complaints regarding severe dust, foul odors, and noise pollution generated by landfill operations. Their grievances extend to the operation of the local waste-to-energy power plant (PLTSa), or known as the Waste Processing into Electrical Energy Project (PSEL).
The protesters urged municipal authorities to properly manage toxic ash residues from waste processing and demanded full transparency regarding environmental impact test results. “We understand if waste volumes decline. But those of us who have depended on this landfill for over 30 years should not be left without certainty,” Karni urged on behalf of the community.
Karni added that residents are seeking clarity on healthcare guarantees and access to environmental compliance documents governing the facility’s operations.
Surakarta Environmental Agency Head Herwin Tri Nugroho Adi affirmed that the municipal government respects the residents’ aspirations. Herwin noted that officials have monitored ambient air quality and noise pollution surrounding the site. “Air quality and noise level measurements remain strictly within regulatory safety thresholds,” he said.
Herwin explained that the decline in economically valuable waste is a direct outcome of government policies aimed at curbing landfill input and phasing out open dumping methods. To resolve ongoing capacity shortages, the facility is now designated primarily for non-recyclable residual and inorganic waste.
Nevertheless, Herwin acknowledged that this policy shift has impacted local scavengers. Therefore, the Environmental Agency has forwarded scavenger census data to the Manpower Agency to enroll affected workers in the Ready-to-Work Home initiative for alternative economic empowerment.
Addressing environmental concerns, the Surakarta municipal administration is preparing a leachate treatment facility scheduled for construction this year. The plant is designed to process liquid waste runoff before it is safely discharged into local waterways.
Regarding public health, Herwin stated that the Health Agency and neighborhood community health centers routinely administer medical services to residents surrounding the landfill. He assured that the administration will continue pursuing comprehensive solutions to ensure landfill management does not marginalize communities historically reliant on the site for their livelihoods.
Read: New Problems in Converting Waste to Energy
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