By Nasywa Alwia Putri
The build-up of rubbish in public spaces has once again drawn attention as it continues to appear in many towns and cities, especially at night when people are more active. Although the local authorities have provided temporary disposal sites and increased the number of cleaning crews, conditions on the ground show that the daily volume of waste remains high.
According to data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2023, Indonesia produced more than thirty five million tonnes of waste in a year, with around sixty percent coming from household and daily consumption activities. The large contribution from the public indicates that this issue is not only caused by a lack of facilities but also by poor habits in managing waste.
Rubbish piles most often appear in busy areas at night such as food centres, social hangout spots and public areas that operate until the early hours. When traders close their stalls around midnight, leftover waste is often left unattended. By the time cleaning workers begin their duties before dawn, some of the waste has already been scattered by the wind or disturbed by stray animals. This pattern repeats itself daily in many high activity locations.
The main problem in this situation is not only the weak enforcement of regulations but also the low level of public awareness in managing personal waste. Bins have been provided, rubbish collection runs regularly, yet the habit of littering continues. The mindset of “someone will clean it later” keeps public spaces burdened by the same issue.
The waste problem will never be resolved if behaviour does not change, regardless of the policies introduced. Infrastructure is only a supporting factor. Real improvement appears when people understand that cleanliness is a shared responsibility and not something that can be left entirely to cleaning staff.
Small steps can actually be effective. Taking your own rubbish home, making sure food waste is thrown into the proper bin or tying up rubbish bags after trading can significantly reduce the build-up. When people contribute in practical ways to maintaining their surroundings, public spaces will no longer become constant trouble spots.
A clean city is not only the result of government work but the product of its citizens’ habits. If a change in mindset begins with simple actions, the waste problem does not need to remain a yearly issue that continues without a clear end.
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