Residents Complain of Waste Blight as Surabaya Council Urges City Government to Intervene
Residents of the Gunung Anyar Harapan housing estate in Gunung Anyar subdistrict, Surabaya, have complained about the squalid condition of the main access road to their neighbourhood. The location even features a makeshift shack fitted with a mattress and pillow.
According to residents, the shack is occasionally occupied and filled with second-hand goods and scrap materials. In addition, the roadside along the access route to the Gunung Anyar Harapan RW 05 estate is frequently used for dumping scrap and drying plastic waste.
The unhygienic conditions are considered a nuisance to residents and detrimental to the aesthetic quality of the residential area.
“It’s a pity for the residents of Gunung Anyar Harapan. Their main access road has become squalid — especially with Lebaran approaching,” said Surabaya Deputy Council Speaker Laila Mufidah in a written statement on Monday (23 February 2026).
Laila reacted strongly to the conditions, which are said to have persisted for some time. The council leader personally inspected the access road to the residential area, which has been disrupted by piles of waste and scrap.
The PKB politician demanded that a collective solution be found promptly. She argued that both the housing developer and the Surabaya city government must resolve the problems affecting the residential area.
Laila said she would coordinate with the Surabaya city government and relevant regional agencies to follow up on the residents’ complaints.
She stressed that the most pressing priority is to ensure residents can celebrate Lebaran comfortably without piles of waste and scrap along the main access road. She also requested that rubbish collection lorries arrive earlier and operate on a regular schedule.
Furthermore, the presence of dozens of waste carts at the Rungkut Menanggal temporary waste disposal site (TPS) was deemed highly disruptive to the residential area, as they are placed along the main road leading to the housing estate.
“Let us all seek a solution together. If it falls under the developer’s authority, they must not turn a blind eye. If it is the city government’s responsibility to enforce order, then it must be done. It cannot look like a slum as residents prepare for Lebaran,” she said.
The main access road to the Gunung Anyar Harapan housing estate is obstructed by waste. The surrounding area also includes the Gunung Anyar kampung settlement. A temporary waste disposal site (TPS) has long stood along the main road.
The TPS is located not far from residents’ homes and the housing estate. A plaque at the site reads “TPS Rungkut Menanggal,” complete with the Surabaya city government logo and details of the Surabaya Cleanliness and Parks Agency.
However, residents say the management and operations of the TPS do not fall under the Surabaya city government.
“As far as I know, the TPS is not under the city government — it’s a third party. But for residents, regardless of who manages it, the waste must not disturb people’s comfort,” said Nendra Yuniar Putra, head of RT 04/RW 05 Gunung Anyar Harapan.
He said the TPS currently disrupts residents’ comfort, particularly due to the large volume of plastic waste piling up along the roadside. There are even several waste accumulation points along the main access road.
Nendra also highlighted the slow pace of waste collection. Currently, waste from the TPS is only fully cleared by around 9.00 a.m. local time, by which point many residents are already passing through on their way to school or work.
Speaking on behalf of residents, Nendra called on the Surabaya city government to step in and create a more comfortable environment. He also argued that the housing developer must share responsibility for the situation.
“Above all, there should be no drying or dumping of plastic waste along the roadside. Especially as Ibu Laila [Mufidah] said, residents are also preparing for Lebaran. The city government is expected to assist residents, hopefully through the Civil Service Police Unit,” he said.