Trash pickers continue to reside at Galuga village’s disposal waste center (TPA) in Cibungbulang
district, Bogor regency, despite Tuesday’s landslide, which claimed four lives.
They asked the Bogor government not to close the TPA, “There are hundreds of trash pickers at Galuga TPA.
“We may starve if this place is closed down,” Aja said Wednesday. Aja has been trash picking at Galuga TPA for the last 10 years.
Trash picker Daud, 12, also said, “I can finance my studies by trash picking here, and I can also financially contribute to my family.”
In one day, Daud can collect up to 25 kilograms of plastic garbage that he sells for Rp 1,500 (US$1.50) per kilogram.
At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a 6-meter-high wall of the Lalamping block on the 17-hectare Galuga TPA collapsed on nine trash pickers due to a landslide, killing four.
Police chief Adj. Comr. Tomex Kurniawan said that the four killed were Yanto, 14; Wahyu, 15; Komar, 19; and Tirta, 13.
The remaining five victims, who mostly suffered severe head injuries, are being treated at Leuwiliang General Hospital,
As of Wednesday, authorities have closed the Lalamping block temporarily. Trash pickers can only conduct their work at Kampung Baru block nearby.
Visiting the location on Wednesday was Bogor city councilor, Sumarli, who said that the construction of the wall was not built to meet safety standards.
He said the wall was not supported by scaffolding.
“Both Bogor regency and municipality administrations should be held responsible, as, even though the TPA belongs to the municipality, Bogor regency dumps its waste there every day,” said Sumarli.
Some 30,000 cubic meters of Bogor regency garbage is dumped at Galuga daily, according to Sumarli.
Also on Wednesday, Bogor municipality administration secretary Bambang Gunawan, provided a total of Rp 20 million aid for the four victims.
“Concerning those injured, we will fully cover hospital expenses,” stated Bambang.
