Membership Fee Becomes a Burden, 50 Percent of Waste Ends on Roads and Rivers

Managing Director of Danantara Indonesia's Stakeholders Management, Rohan Hafas. (Photo: Danantara)

JAKARTA - The problem of waste in Indonesia is still a serious challenge. As many as 50 percent of waste is reported to end up on the streets and rivers.

One of the conditions was triggered by the inability of some people to pay the garbage transportation fee in their neighborhood.

Managing Director of Stakeholders Management Danantara Indonesia Rohan Hafas revealed that the findings were based on a World Bank study.

"Garbage in Indonesia is 50 percent, this is the World Bank, yes, there is no Indonesia at all. 50 percent of the garbage in Indonesia runs into the streets and rivers. Based on the survey, the World Bank," he said in an official statement, Thursday, April 9.

Rohan revealed that one of the main causes of the condition was the low ability of the community to pay monthly garbage transportation fees ranging from Rp. 10,000 to Rp. 15,000 per household.

"Unable to pay monthly dues to garbage haulers managed by RT, RW or Kelurahan. That's the right life, I mean the fact that it happens like that. So he just dumps it secretly on the side of the road, in the river. That's why we have a garbage problem," he said.

The dues paid by residents are actually used to finance the transportation of garbage to temporary shelters (TPS).

However, this scheme is considered not to be effective because it also burdens local governments (Pemda), especially regarding the high cost of land rental for waste management.

To overcome this problem, Rohan continued, the government is now encouraging the acceleration of the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) or Waste Processing into Electric Energy (PSEL) project as a long-term solution.

"The concept of waste-to-energy, so that people throw their garbage in its place, means it must be transported, which means that the transporter is free from home. This is done by the local government. Why does the local government want it? Because it is no longer burdened by the cost of renting land like in Bantar Gebang, which is actually more expensive," said Rohan.