During Ramadan 1444 The Volume Of Garbage In Mataram City Increases, 2 Tons Per Day

Seasonal traders peddle their wares on Majapahit Street, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Food trading activities contributed to the increase in the emergence of waste in Mataram during Ramadan. (ANTARA)

MATARAM - The volume of waste in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province, increased by about two tons per day during Ramadan 1444 Hijri. Most of the trash is seasonal traders.

Head of the Mataram City Environment Agency HM Kemal Islam in Mataram, said that the volume of waste in Mataram City, which on weekdays ranged from 200 to 240 tons in the month of Ramadan, increased by about two tons per day.

"The increase in the volume of waste on average comes from the activities of seasonal takjil traders who appear on a number of strategic roads in Mataram," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 4.

He said that every morning the cleaning staff transports garbage from the seasonal traders who have been accommodated and placed on the side of the road.

"Our officers can more easily take the garbage of traders who already use the container," he said.

"This has become a routine job and traders already understand," he added.

Kemal said that traders are only required to pay a waste levy of IDR 5,000 per month.

Head of the Mataram City Trade Office, Uun Pujianto, previously said that seasonal traders are allowed to sell in strategic locations during the fasting month, but they must comply with applicable regulations.

"We do not prohibit notes, maintain cleanliness, and traders must follow the rules, do not violate the rules by selling in public facilities that disturb traffic order and the community," he said.

Uun said that during the fasting month a number of roads and strategic points in Mataram City are usually filled with seasonal traders who peddle various takjil, food, drinks, and prayer tools and clothes.

Traders with side dishes, ready-to-eat vegetables, takjil, young coconuts, and Nira water usually peddle merchandise in the areas of Airlangga Street, Majapihit, Ampenan, Rembiga, Kebon Roek Market, and ACC Market.

"From experience every year, these points become crowded areas for seasonal traders," said Uun.