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strong>Nov. 24, p3

Watch out litterbugs: Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil will impose fines for littering starting on Dec. 1. Over the past nine years, Bylaw No. 11/2005 on public order, cleanliness and beauty (K3) and Bandung Mayoral Regulation No. 522/2007, which regulates the fines and guidelines, remained toothless as nobody got punished for illegal littering.

'€œThe problem in Bandung is the people'€™s mind-set. People are used to breaking the law,'€ Ridwan said over the weekend.

Litterbugs and cars that are not equipped with waste bins will be fined Rp 250,000 (US$20.60) and those caught breaking garbage bins or burning garbage in places at risk of fire will face fines of Rp 1 million.

Your comments:

Finally, there is a regulation on littering. However, the regulation seems excessive and therefore will likely never be respected or enforced. On top of that, littering is the only the most visible aspect of a far more concerning issue: the destruction of our natural environment.

The government should start tackling the root of the problem through proper education and trash management.

How about targeting businesses responsible for generating waste and causing environmental damage?

Perhaps religious leaders should help raise awareness on environmental issues.

Benam

Such a regulation should be implemented everywhere in the country. We need more CCTVs to catch these perpetrators in action.

Batik

This may cause a big departure from the usual '€œI'€™ll just throw my garbage on the street'€ mentality of the general public. I hope so. Let'€™s see if the authorities really uphold this law.

Charles Jarret

Let'€™s do the same in Jakarta! Congratulations to the mayor of Bandung for the fee punishment. Pollution is another problem.

Herozip

It'€™s a good start if it is actually enforced and properly fined. Once word gets around that a few have paid fines, the rest will slowly fall into line. Indonesians do not like giving money away without anything in return.

The only bit I don'€™t agree with is the trash bin in the car. This is up to the person and they should learn to dispose of rubbish in a trash bin later and if not, be fined heavily for dumping it as they currently do.

LAF

To Mayor Kamil,

It is good thinking, to introduce this very effective law, which bites. Two things need to be reviewed.

Personally, I think that taking away one'€™s identification card (if a fine is unpaid) sounds very heavy handed.

What happens if that person comes from Kalimantan? It is okay if your cash office is open 24/7, if not the culprit has to come back to pay the fine? What if he doesn'€™t care, and reports a loss of his ID when he returns to Kalimantan? And, does the constitution allow men in uniform to retain the ID of citizens for this offence? For how long, and what about foreigners?

It surprises motorists that they have to fix waste bins in their vehicle. Why is it necessary? Can'€™t the rubbish in the car be stuffed into a plastic bag (and kept within the car) or dumped straight into the driver'€™s pockets or into the given ashtray? What about a lady'€™s handbag '€” too small? What is very rampant and is widely practiced is that tissues are freely tossed out of cars while they are moving '€” I do wish the law comes down hard on the culprits!

Luwanto

I agree with you in regard to being forced to have a trash bin in the car '€” or being fined Rp 250,000 (US$ 20.50) '€” is an exaggeration. That is certainly not up to law enforcement to decide. What they can decide upon is to prevent that litter being thrown out of car windows onto the street.

I never throw any trash onto the street and if there is some accumulating in my car (maybe a long drive with family) I am able to collect it at the end of the trip (or if there is a possibility to dispose of the rubbish legally and at a proper location) '€” but that still does not mean I have to have a trash bin in my car.

A simple bag does the job usually to collect whatever crumbles around there (since supermarkets are anyway all too eager to give you half a dozen bags for purchases '€” that is also one area to look into '€” artificial trash creation due to over-packing of goods).

IA Groot

It is a good example to follow for other towns and cities. Noise pollution should also be included as a serious offense as it affects many people. I hope the mayor of Kupang follows the example of Bandung!

Henry Manoe