Illegal dumps found in Bekasi

BEKASI: Authorities found illegal dumps created by trash pickers near the Bantargebang and Sumur Batu dumps in Bekasi.

Deddy Djuanda, head of the Bekasi administration's sanitation, park and funeral agency, said the trash pickers had asked the truck drivers to drop off their loads before the entrances to the dumps.

"The trash pickers opened the location without acquiring permits from the agency," he said Monday.

The agency found five illegal dumps near Sumur Batu dump, while an NGO found 12 near Bantargebang dump. Sumur Batu is managed by Bekasi administration and Bantargebang by Jakarta administration.

Deddy said the officers had been clearing the locations by prohibiting truck drivers from dropping off their loads at the areas.

"We will inform the trash pickers about the regulation so they will not open any more illegal dumps ... It's dangerous because the garbage piles can fall onto them." -- JP