Despite the government commending the Central Jakarta administration this month with eight environmental awards, including for the city's renowned Taman Situ Lembang, piles of garbage remain in many areas of the park.

Located on Jl. Lembang in Menteng, Central Jakarta, the park was crowned the "most beautiful" park in the country at the awards.

"Many people visiting this park bring food and drink but throw away the packaging, despite there being a number of bins available," said Burhan, a cleaner at the park.

He said visitors often threw away trash because they thought the park had maintenance staff, demonstrating their lack of responsibility for the natural environment.

"This park could actually be very clean if visitors took a little more care not to throw away their trash carelessly," he said.

The park, built in 1926 by the Dutch colonial administration, boasts a reservoir with a fountain in the middle. During the colonial era, the park was frequented by Dutch officials living in Menteng who sought relaxation away from the city.

Burhan said most of the litter in the park comprised of drink packages, plastic and styrofoam boxes left behind by inconsiderate visitors.

Dry leaves are also collected and placed in large sacks which are kept in one area of the park. Plastic waste is kept separately at a different site. "Garbage officers from the city park and cemetery agency take the trash from the dump sites every morning," he said.

The first cleaning shift at the park, he said, began at 6 a.m. and continued until 9:30 a.m., before a second stage commenced at 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.. Four cleaners are assigned to maintain the park every day.

The park provides several blue-and-orange trash bins separating organic and non organic waste. Other yellow trash bins are spread around the park as well.

One yellow trash bin was found broken at the base, meaning garbage fell out the bottom and piled up, adding to the overall problem.

Street vendors are often seen in and around the garden, risking frequent raids by public order officers.

Public order officers are assigned to enforce bylaws and gubernatorial decrees, which include abolishing vendors and sex workers from the city streets.

Street vendors said the last raid public order officers conducted in the area was last month.

Vendors have been dealing with raids from officers on Jl. Lembang for more than 5 years.

Nori, a tofu seller, said he came close to getting caught several times in the past by public order officers.

"The officers suddenly came to the park to catch us so I rushed to a nearby house to escape," he said, adding that most residents allowed them to hide on their properties.

"The residents understand we are just making a little money in the park to survive," he said.

Visitors outside Jl. Lembang are only allowed to visit the park before 8 p.m., with the three boom gates into the area closed between that hour and 5:30 a.m. "Residents complained about the noise," said a soup vendor, who has been working in the vicinity around the park for more than 10 years.

The garden is visited by families, children, and couples from around the capital, with some even fishing in the murky lake.

Rachman, a visitor, said he came here to fish with his son on the weekends.

The Central Jakarta city administration released 4,000 small goldfish, catfish, and nila fish into the reservoir at the park earlier this month during a ceremony to mark the eight environmental handed down by the government. (nia)

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