DPRD Calls Bantargebang Garbage Landslide an Alarm for Improving Jakarta's Waste Management System 

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Wibi Andrino assessed that the landslide of garbage mounds at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) should be a serious warning for the government in improving the waste management system in the capital.

"First of all, we all mourn this incident. The safety of workers and residents around TPST must be the main concern," Wibi told reporters, Monday, March 10.

According to him, this landslide event shows the importance of applying stricter safety standards in waste management, especially in locations with very large waste piles such as Bantargebang.

"This landslide incident is a reminder that waste management must be carried out with stricter safety standards, including strengthening the supervision system, regulating the work zone, and improving the management of waste accumulation at the location," he said.

Wibi assessed that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government needed to accelerate steps to reduce waste from its source or from upstream. In addition, the use of waste processing technology must also be strengthened to reduce dependence on landfills.

"In the future, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government needs to accelerate efforts to reduce waste from upstream, strengthen processing technologies such as RDF and waste to energy, and improve the management system at the TPST to make it safer and more modern," said Wibi.

He also reminded that TPST Bantargebang is currently still the main location for waste disposal in Jakarta. However, according to him, this condition cannot be maintained in the long term.

"Jakarta must move towards a more sustainable waste management system so that incidents like this do not happen again," he said.

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung expressed his condolences for the death of four people in the landslide of a garbage mound in Zone 4 of the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Center (TPST), Bekasi City, West Java.

It is known that the landslide of the garbage pile in Zone 4 of the Bantargebang TPST, Bekasi City, West Java, occurred on Sunday, March 8 at around 14.30 WIB.

Until Monday, March 9 afternoon, six people were found dead, namely Enda Widayanti (25), Sumine (60), Dedi Sutrisno, Irwan Supriatin, Jussova Situmorang, and Hardianto.

In addition, one person named Riki is reported to be still being searched. Meanwhile, six other people were reported to be safe, namely Budiman, Johan, Safifudin, Slamet, Ato, and Dofir.

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung explained that the landslide occurred in Zone 4A and was allegedly triggered by extreme rain that flooded the area. The landslide material blocked the operational road and the flow of the Ciketing River along about 40 meters.

After the incident, the DKI Jakarta Environmental Service (DLH) immediately activated emergency response operations. This step was taken to ensure the safety of officers, handle victims, and stabilize the affected area so that waste management services could resume.

The handling process is carried out by a joint team across agencies. The operation involves Basarnas, Polda Metro Jaya, TNI, BPBD DKI Jakarta and Bekasi City, the Fire and Rescue Service, and local area officers.

In the evacuation process, the team used 19 excavators and seven ambulances. As a mitigation measure, services in Zone 4A were temporarily closed.

"The delivery of waste to the Bantargebang TPST is minimized, diverted to Zone 3, and two new points are prepared while being refined," said Pramono.

Pramono said the government would also immediately normalize the Ciketing River, which was covered by waste material due to the landslide.

"Because the river has a role or benefit for residents as well as the place, once it is closed, the road is also closed, it is visible on the field. And for that, it will be immediately normalized again," he continued.