PORTALJABAR, WEST BANDUNG REGENCY - West Java Regional Secretary Herman Suryatman said that the West Java Provincial Government as the manager must limit the volume of waste shipments from regencies and cities in Greater Bandung to the Sarimukti TPA.

If not limited, the Sarimukti landfill will be overloaded faster. This was said by Herman when reviewing the Sarimukti landfill in Cipatat, West Bandung Regency, Friday (4/10/2024).

According to Herman, currently there are 1,750 tons with 267 trips of garbage per day sent from four regions to the Sarimukti TPA. If this pattern is allowed, the Sarimukti TPA will be overloaded by the end of the year.

"Sarimukti is almost full, it will be overloaded by the end of this year. And of course that must not happen because there will definitely be a garbage explosion in Greater Bandung," said Herman Suryatman.

Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government with four city and district governments in Greater Bandung through regional heads have agreed to reduce waste to the Sarmukti TPA.

"At least from 1,750 tons (of waste) every day for the next two months until November 30, 2024, it must be reduced to 1,250 tons per day. Or reduced by 500 tons (of waste) for two months," said Herman.

In order for it to run well, Herman invited residents, especially in Greater Bandung, to reduce the waste that goes into Sarimukti. Especially for organic waste.

"To the residents of Greater Bandung, let's reduce waste from home. Utilize waste and of course recycle the waste at home," explained Herman.

"Especially for food waste (organic), because of the 1,750 tons, half is food or organic waste," he said.

The Regional Secretary explained that for the next two months, it is hoped that the four regional governments using the Sarimukti TPA can reduce the daily waste sent.

"We hope that Bandung City will reduce from 170 rit to 140 rit, Bandung Regency from 70 rit to 40 rit, Cimahi City from 37 rit to 17 rit, and West Bandung Regency from 20 rit to 17 rit," said Herman.

According to Herman, the trip restriction is a short-term solution, so that the Sarimukti TPA can continue to operate until 2026. He is confident that the Sarimukti TPA operation can be optimized until 2027 with various capacity developments.

"On the other hand, we are currently carrying out the construction of the Legoknangka TPPAS which will hopefully be completed in 2028," said Herman.

There is potential for waste to pile up at the household level, so it is the responsibility of the district/city government to independently process waste from the source.

The local government cannot continue to rely on the Sarimukti TPA, but must start to be independent by educating its citizens in selecting and sorting waste.

"We are almost in a waste emergency and it must start from home. Be wise in managing waste, especially food waste (organic), zero food waste," he said.

During the review, Herman noted that there was still waste sent to the Sarimukti TPA but had not been sorted and sorted by district and city. The condition of organic waste was still mixed with inorganic.

"It's actually very unfortunate, this waste should have been sorted from the house (upstream) so that when it arrives here it is separated into organic and inorganic waste," he said.

Herman explained that the basic principle of waste management from upstream is that waste reduction, waste utilization and recycling are needed, this will have an impact on the downstream which will reduce the waste load.

"And this will help us, so that Bandung Raya's waste is not a problem. Reduce, reuse and recycle must be done from home," he said.

"With mixed waste, it will be difficult for us to manage the waste," he added.

"This is our shared homework, to the community, let's sort, choose, and then reduce waste right now," concluded Herman.