Garbage Truck Driver Dies Due To Fatigue, DKI LH Service Admits Bantargebang Operational Rain

Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto, admitted that rain conditions could be an operational disruption at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST).

This resulted in the working time of the garbage truck drivers who delivered garbage from Jakarta to Bantargebang getting worse.

This is in response to the death of a garbage truck driver who died due to exhaustion while queuing for unloading cargo to the Bantargebang TPST.

"Every time it rains heavily, we have to temporarily stop the disposal for the safety of workers. The landfill condition is increasingly saving risks that we cannot ignore," Asep told reporters, Wednesday, December 10.

In normal situations, the waiting time for trucks in Bantargebang is in the range of three hours. However, the queue has increased dramatically to six to eight hours in the last few days.

After the rain stops, officers need additional time to rearrange the disposal point so that it is safe to reuse. This hinders the smooth operation of management at the Bantargebang TPST.

In addition, work pressure increased because the route to the disposal site was submerged in water. This puddle was triggered by an avalanche at the Batu Sumur TPA owned by the Bekasi City Government which blocked the flow of the Asem River so that the mobility of the truck was disrupted.

"These conditions make the queues of trucks elongated in the last few days," said Asep.

To defuse the situation, DLH added two disposal points so that five exhaust points can operate in parallel. The rearranging of fleet departure hours from each region is also enforced to avoid buildup at certain hours.

"With a more regular schedule, the flow of vehicles can be controlled and the queue time becomes more efficient," said Asep.

Asep admitted that the short-term solution was not enough. The DKI Department of Environment and Forestry, as reported by Asep, will conduct a thorough evaluation to ensure a safer work pattern and waste management that does not burden officers in the field.

"This incident is a reminder for us to tighten work safety standards so that similar incidents do not happen again," said Asep.

DLH is now rearranging the pattern of transportation from five urban areas. Changes are made to fleet schedules and disposal flows so as not to be centered at the same time. The tightening of waste disposal times is expected to reduce the queue load and prevent new buildup points.

"With more equitable distribution and qualified information system support, waiting times can be suppressed and workloads are more measurable," explained Asep.

Asep said that improvements did not only stop at the schedule reformulation, but also included strengthening supporting facilities and more responsive operational arrangements for field conditions. The update of safety protocols is said to be an important step to ensure the safety of workers on duty in the midst of long operating hours.

"We are doing this improvement so that the Jakarta waste management system is more efficient, safe, and humane. Protection for workers who are the backbone of the city's cleanliness is our priority," he said.

For information, a garbage truck driver named Wahyudi from the South Jakarta LH Sub-dept. reportedly died after queuing for too long to unload the garbage cargo to the Bantar Gebang TPST on Friday, December 5, 2025. Wahyudi is also known to have a history of heart disease.

Based on information from fellow drivers, the queue for unloading cargo in Bantargebang can last very long, even known for up to 20 hours. The long queue process was accused of causing fatigue which resulted in the driver's death.