'Waste management stops at disposal'

'Waste management stops at disposal'

Jakarta produces about 6,000 tons of garbage daily, over half of
that amount is household waste. Although the Bekasi administration
has extended the period for Jakarta's use of the Bantar Gebang dump,
the garbage crisis is still looming.

The city administration has yet to find a way of
managing rubbish that is safe to people's health and
to the environment. As contributors to the city's waste
crisis, some people talked to The Jakarta Post on how
they are dealing with the problem.

Vera, 44, works at a non-governmental organization concerned
with the protection of women's and children's rights. She lives
with her daughter in Kalibata area, South Jakarta:

I separate organic waste from non-organic waste. I also
separate things, such as plastic, cartons and bottles, into
different bags. But, you know what? Soon after I put the bags
out to be collected by the garbage man, the scavengers sift
through and tear them open with their scavenging hook. Worse
still, the garbage man later picks up all the garbage and mixes
the whole lot into one big heap.

Recycling? Well, I think the producers of detergent or other
products in plastic packages should run a public campaign on
recycling. I think this could be a profitable business, if
neighborhood units recycled those plastic packages into durable
shopping bags, for example.

I personally don't have much time or knowledge to create an
environmentally friendly household. But I have used shampoo and
soap products that lather less to save water -- since I don't
have to rinse many times -- and to reduce water pollution as
well.

Eka, 25, is an employee with a private company in Central
Jakarta. She lives with her parents in South Jakarta:

Garbage processing to me is nothing more than helping my
mother throw rubbish onto the dump provided by our neighborhood
unit and paying the Rp 25,000 monthly sanitary fee to the
neighborhood administration. The garbage truck picks up the
rubbish every one or two days.

I think most Jakartans don't have time to recycle, we're too
busy with other things. Moreover, why should we turn organic
waste into compost when we don't have plants or garden to
fertilize?

--The Jakarta Post