Trash in front of Ciputat State Elementary School 2 no longer piles up as penalty banners appear

Tangerang Selatan, Kompas.com - Trash piled up on Jalan Pemuda, Ciputat, South Tangerang (Tangsel), exactly in front of Ciputat State Elementary School 2 (SDN 2 Ciputat). The scene went viral on social media after a photo was posted by the Instagram account @tangsel.life. The post shows piles of rubbish wrapped in sacks and black and red plastic bags littering the street. Yet the location had a banner reading ‘No littering here!’

However, when Kompas.com visited the site on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, the rubbish pile was no longer visible. The area that was previously full of rubbish now looked clean. No plastic bags or sacks were seen stacked at the spot. In addition, a new banner installed by the Tangsel City Environmental Service was visible. The banner reads the prohibition of littering. ‘Offenders face a fine of Rp 500,000 and imprisonment of up to three months or a maximum of Rp 50,000,000 (sanctions for repeating the same act),’ the banner states.

Ana, 50, a clothing trader who has sold here for 20 years, said the littering ban banner had not deterred residents from littering. ‘The banners have been up for about a week. It just doesn't work. People still throw rubbish there,’ Ana told Kompas.com at her stall about 10 metres from the rubbish point.

According to her, the rubbish is usually dumped by Pasar Ciputat residents in the pre-dawn or early morning when the surroundings are still quiet. She even says she often admonishes those caught littering. However, the admonitions were reportedly met with anger.