'Recycling is good, but is not yet integrated'

The capital is living in its own trash. Jakarta produces over 6,000 tons of garbage a day and the administration continues to struggle to find some way to get rid of all that trash. In observance of World Environment Day, which fell on June 5, The Jakarta Post asked residents for their views on recycling.

Devi, 29, is a homemaker. She lives with her husband and children in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta:

I support recycling because it helps preserve the environment. Unfortunately though, recycling here is only done by concerned individuals and is not integrated into the city's services.

For example, even if we separate our garbage into organic waste and recyclables, the garbage man dumps it all together in the truck and lets the scavengers at the dump pick through it for anything they can use.

Some products come with refill packages, which is good because it is cheaper and reduces household waste. But again, I think the producers should provide a drop-off place where consumers can return the packages for recycling.

Marta Sinaga, 34, works at a private bank. She lives with her husband in Bogor:

I collect recyclable products like plastic bottles and bags, paper and various wood products such as toothpicks and ice cream spoons because I think I will be able to reuse them someday.

I have seen that some people are making shopping bags and wallets out of old detergent packages, photograph frames from ice cream spoons and lots of other unique products from recycled items.

My husband has insisted that our personal stationery be from recycled paper that we make ourselves. I think that is a great idea since we have lots of old newspapers. But we are both working and do not have the time to do it. Maybe later.

--The Jakarta Post