Why Does Jakarta's Waste Problem Always Recur Every Eid?

Waste accumulation that repeatedly occurs in Jakarta every Eid al-Fitr moment is considered not just a technical issue on the ground. Lecturer from the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Indonesia, Mahawan Karuniasa, stated that there is a fundamental problem in the waste management system. The surge in waste volume during Eid is one of the main triggers. In addition, low waste sorting from households worsens the situation. “Second, household sorting is still low, so everything mixes and burdens transportation,” said Mahawan. He added that the capacity of facilities and transportation fleets is not yet commensurate with the seasonal waste surge. Mahawan assessed that this condition shows that Jakarta’s waste management system is still reactive. “So the problem is not just because the officers are not quick enough, but because its management is still reactive, not preventive,” he said. Previously, waste accumulation occurred in several areas of Jakarta after Eid. Transportation queues once stretched for hours, and in some points, mountains of rubbish appeared. At the Kramat Jati Main Market, for example, the waste pile once reached thousands of tonnes and has not fully dissipated even though transportation has been carried out.