Waste Piles Up at Sunter Jaya Disposal Site in North Jakarta, Reaching 3 Metres High

Waste piles as high as three metres have accumulated at the RW 09 Sunter Jaya disposal site in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. Based on observations at the location on Monday (18/05/2026), the accumulated waste consists of rotting food scraps, such as eggs and rice, alongside plastics, styrofoam, and dry leaves.

The green boundary wall separating the disposal site from the road appears partially destroyed, causing the waste to protrude into the roadway. A wooden security post (pos ronda) at the site is also partially buried, with the height of the waste pile appearing to exceed the roof of the structure.

A banner mounted on the disposal site wall reads, “In addition to RW 09 waste collectors, dumping here is prohibited.” Below this text, ten photographs of authorised RW 09 waste collectors are displayed, indicating those permitted to empty their carts into the site.

A yellow excavator was observed at the location, repeatedly pushing the waste to prevent it from overflowing onto the main road. Kholil (57), a local resident, stated that the accumulation has persisted for almost two weeks. “The condition is truly severe. It is covering half the road. It has only just been pushed back,” he told reporters at the scene on Monday.

According to Kholil, the primary cause of the severe buildup is the lack of waste collection trucks. He noted that residents have frequently complained about the situation as it disrupts local comfort, yet the fleet of collection vehicles remains insufficient. “It is rarely collected. The excuse is that there are no vehicles available; they claim the trucks are constantly breaking down,” he added.