November 5, 2025 | 04:17 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH), Asep Kuswanto, suspects that the disturbing odor affecting the Jakarta Garden City community comes from leachate, a liquid produced by garbage trucks that dump waste. He claims that the smell does not come from the Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant facility in Rorotan, Cilincing District, North Jakarta.
"Lately, there has been quite a high amount of rainfall, and perhaps the garbage inside the trucks has become very watery. Then, the trucks are unable to contain the leachate, causing it to spill onto the road," said Asep to Tempo at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
According to Asep, the Rorotan RDF is equipped with odor elimination technology, so it should not emit a pungent aroma. The garbage trucks that carry waste to the RDF plant are designed so that they do not spill their cargo. He said that despite the garbage truck doors being tightly closed, rainwater can still flow through the gaps and spill onto the streets.
Amid protests against the operation of Rorotan RDF, Asep emphasizes that the waste processing facility underwent substantial improvements during the trial period. The management has made efforts to eliminate the unpleasant odor. "This is much better than before," he said.
Asep also mentioned that several large illegal garbage dumping sites are present in the residential area of Jakarta Garden City. These waste points are also suspected of causing the unpleasant odor.
However, the Chair of the Jakarta Garden City Residents' Forum, Wahyu Andre Maryono, accuses Rorotan RDF of spreading odor and polluting the air. He stated that the operation of the facility has led to dozens of children around his residential complex suffering from eye irritation and respiratory infections.
"Currently, 23 children have been affected. Some even vomited due to the smell of this RDF," Wahyu said at Jakarta Garden City complex on November 4.
He claimed that the residents around the Rorotan RDF no longer believe the facility's management when they promise to eliminate the odor nuisance. "For the sake of garbage emergency, go ahead. But if there's no change, should we stay silent?" said Wahyu.
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