Fines Increase and Jail an Option for Jakarta Litterbugs

The Jakarta Globe, August 28, 2013.


Litterbugs in Jakarta will face on-the-spot fines or up to three months in jail under a new regulation introduced by the provincial government.

“For individual offenders, the fine will be between Rp 100,000 and Rp 500,000 [$9.15 and $45.70],” Unu Nurdin, the head of the Jakarta Sanitation Agency, told Jakarta Globe on Wednesday. “If the litter is being produced by a group, such as a company, factory or residential complex, the fine jumps to between Rp 10 million and Rp 50 million.”

The new waste-management regulation was issued three weeks ago and is now being communicated to the public.

Unu said that officials — including police officers, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), neighborhood units, urban wards, subdistricts and municipalities — would be called on to observe waste-related activities.

The administration is also calling on building owners to provide closed-circuit television footage.

“We will also involve related institutions to change people’s mind-set, such as the education agency to teach students not to litter,” Unu said.

The city administration has promised to reward companies or groups who manage their waste cleanly.

“Companies or regions that successfully maintain a clean environment will be rewarded with fiscal incentives such as tax cuts, along with non-fiscal incentives. It will be stipulated in a gubernatorial regulation to be issued soon.”

Unu said that under the old regulation, the maximum fine for litterbugs was only Rp 20,000.

“Some of the offenders did not even pay the fine, claiming that they did not have money,” he said. “It did not deter them at all. Now if they refuse to pay, they will serve three months in jail.”

The government earlier planned for the regulation to take effect on Oct. 1 this year, but Unu said the worrying waste situation in Jakarta, prompted officials to move the date forward.

“Today we informed Jakarta government officials about the regulation. The officials should start to advise the public,” Unu said. “We’ll continue educating people and at the same time we’ll also start charging offenders.”

A recent study of 11 provinces by the Ministry of the Environment found that Jakarta ranked lowest of all in waste management.

The sanitation agency once paused its cleaning efforts for four days at a water gate in the Manggarai area of South Jakarta, and 620 tons of waste piled up against the gate during that time. Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo recently announced measures to target river waste.

On New Years Eve, 2012, 650 tons of litter were collected between Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan and Jalan Sudirman.

Past efforts to end littering, from “True Believers Do Not Litter” banners to signs reading “Litterers Will Be Fined,” have not proven succesful



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This from the Jakarta Globe from August 14, 2013.


Jakarta will soon launch a river patrol initiative in collaboration with the military in an effort to begin enforcing a 2013 law that forbids city residents from dumping garbage into urban waterways.

“We have come to an agreement with the army chief and the deputy minister for public works,” Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo said on Wednesday at a military roll call in in Kalibata, South Jakarta. “Every day, we will will have a patrol that specifically deals with garbage in rivers.”

The law, which bans the dumping of garbage into waterways, reservoirs, streets, parks and other public places, stipulates fines of Rp 500,000 ($50) to Rp 50 million ($5,000) for individual and corporate offenders. It also bans burning garbage (except for in city incinerators), littering from car windows and using unofficial garbage dumps.

“At first, we will warn and educate those found throwing waste into rivers,” Joko said. “Later, we will enforce the regulation.”

According to Joko, soldiers and city personnel will carry out the patrols in tandem. The program will launch in Kalibata, limited at first to the Ciliwung river.

“It will start with the Ciliwung because it’s in the worst condition,” Joko said. “Gradually, the patrols will expand to the other rivers as well.”

The patrols will help clean up garbage in addition to educating and reprimanding riverside residents.

“Essentially, we want to educate people not to do this again — not to throw garbage into rivers, because it impacts all Jakarta residents,” said General Moeldoko, the Army chief of staff.

Officials were unwilling to provide further information on the patrols, including how widespread they would be or when they would begin to operate



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