TPST Piyungan Closed By Residents, Yogyakarta Called To Face Potential Waste Emergency

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

YOGYAKARTA - The city of Yogyakarta is faced with a potential waste emergency after being unable to dispose of waste to the Piyungan Final Disposal Site due to closures made by residents around the waste disposal site.

"We are able to hold waste in all depots, temporary garbage dumps, and garbage fleets for a maximum of five days. Moreover, there will be a waste emergency," said Yogyakarta City Environment Agency (DLH) Head Sugeng Darmanto, quoted by Antara, Monday, 9 May.

According to him, the average volume of waste disposed of at depots and landfills is currently an increase of around 15 percent of the volume of waste generated every day in the city of Yogyakarta.

The increase was triggered by increased tourist visits to the city of Yogyakarta during the Idul Fitri holiday.

The average volume of waste generated by the City of Yogyakarta reaches around 370 tons and as much as 260 tons of it is disposed of at the Piyungan TPA. The rest can be absorbed by waste banks and scavengers.

"You can calculate for yourself how much waste is currently piling up in depots and temporary disposal sites (TPS) and stuck in the garbage fleet because it can't be dumped into Piyungan," he said.

However, Sugeng said he would try his best to prevent the pile of garbage from spilling onto the road.

"We are trying not to let the garbage spill onto the road. We have prepared two fleets to take the garbage to the Nitikan TPS or other places where it is still possible. 'Hide it' first," he said.

The closure of the Piyungan TPA which then resulted in the accumulation of waste in depots and TPS in Yogyakarta City has happened many times.

"What is needed is a medium and long-term solution. One of them is preparing land for waste management," he said.

Sugeng said that the City of Yogyakarta is trying to acquire land for waste management, but it is still in the study stage. The planned land is located in another district.