After the Garbage Truck Leaves

Based on data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH)'s National Waste Management Information System, Banten produces around 8,000 tons of waste every day. Of that amount, only around 1,000 tons can be managed.

I don't know how to imagine 8,000 tons of rubbish. We never weigh a single bag of rubbish at home. However, if only about one eighth of that can be managed, we don't need to be good at arithmetic to know there is a big problem.

The problem didn't go away. Just placed away from our sight. Garbage leaves the house to the cart. From the cart to the truck. From the truck it is taken to the final processing place.

The name sounds convincing. It's as if once it gets there, the waste is actually processed until its business is finished.

In reality, a lot of rubbish just arrives, is dismantled, then piled up. Come again tomorrow. Stacked again. The day after tomorrow too.

Over time, what grows is not the processing system. Which grows new mountains.

These mountains grow in Jatiwaringin, Cilowong, Bangkonol, Dengung, Cihara, Rawa Cat, Cipeucang, to Bagendung. Places we rarely mention except when there's a problem.