Letters: Bantar Gebang's environment

Talking about Bantar Gebang is talking about mountains of garbage and environmental challenges.

According to Eko Bharuna, head of Jakarta's sanitation agency, Bantar Gebang is the biggest landfill in Indonesia, collecting 6,000 tons of solid waste per day. This figure may explain how garbage piles up to form a surreal mountainous landscape, and how people manage to live in the area.

The area around the "mountain" is home to about 200 people, who all live in small makeshift houses. The residents are very accustomed to the smell emanating from the tons of garbage an all make a living as a waste collector and sorter

These people make an honest living from the mountain of waste, but it comes with a price.

Bad sanitation and poor hygiene the comes part and parcel with living in such close proximity to such an unclean environment has been proven to have a detrimental effect on the people's health.

Participants of the University of Indonesia's Indonesia Leadership Development Program 2010 undertook a social project in Bantar Gebang earlier this month and found that most of those living on and around the trash heap suffer skin and respitory problems and dizziness

The people of Bantar Gebang hope the government does its utmost in improving its environmental management and health services instead of just burying the case of "garbage mountain" and the people.

Hafiza Elvira Nofitariani
Jakarta