Prevent Pollution And Microplastics, DLH DKI Prepares Social Sanctions For Residents Who Burn Garbage

Illustration-(DOC ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Environment Agency (DLH) is reviewing the application of social sanctions for residents who are still burning garbage carelessly.

This step follows an increase in public reports regarding the impact of pollution due to the habit of burning garbage, ranging from decreasing air quality to potential microplastic contamination of rain and soilwaters.

Head of DLH DKI Jakarta Asep Kuswanto explained that currently there are no regulations that specifically regulate social sanctions for perpetrators of burning waste.

However, discussions about the form of sanctions began to surface in a number of public forums highlighting environmental issues in the capital city.

"This social sanctions idea appeared in public discussions some time ago, when we discussed the contamination of rainwater by microplastics due to burning waste. This discourse is increasingly urgent as reports of citizens increase every month," Asep said in his statement, Thursday, October 30.

DLH is currently preparing a legal basis that allows the implementation of social sanctions effectively without violating individual privacy rights.

"We are looking for the right regulatory umbrella so that the application of social sanctions is effective and does not violate citizens' privacy rights," he said.

Asep emphasized that social sanctions are not intended as a form of formal punishment such as legal sanctions, but as a means of social control based on citizen agreement to foster collective responsibility at the community level.

According to him, social and educational approaches need to be strengthened, because the practice of burning garbage in densely populated areas often occurs due to low public awareness of the long-term impact.

Smoke from burning plastic waste is known to release toxic emissions that can be inhaled by local residents, while the residue pollutes rainwater and soil.

In research that is being studied by DLH together with a number of research institutions, microplastic particles resulting from burning waste are even said to be one of the main contributors to urban air pollution in Jakarta.

Asep said that DKI DLH seeks to balance the enforcement of discipline and community development so that social sanctions policies can later be applied fairly and proportionally.

Our commitment is to balance disciplinary enforcement with an educational approach. This sanction not only punishes, but also invites people to be part of the solution," he said.