Jakarta and Yogyakarta are currently facing air pollution and waste management emergencies.
Jakarta has recently been declared to have the worst air pollution in the world, while Yogyakarta is dealing with a waste problem due to the overflowing of the Piyungan landfill.
Hence, the public is advised not to burn trash, as it contributes to air pollution and poses risks to respiratory health, including potentially triggering respiratory diseases and cancer.
These topics were raised during the Pojok Bulaksumur discussion titled “Beware of Threats from Trash and Unhealthy Air” on Monday, August 21.
It featured experts, including weather and climate expert Dr. Emilya Nurjani from the Faculty of Geography; integrated waste management researcher Dr. Wiratni from the Faculty of Engineering; and pulmonologist Ika Trisnawati, MD from the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing.
Dr. Wiratni explained that Yogyakarta’s waste emergency resulted from the Piyungan landfill exceeding its capacity. The volume of waste entering the landfill increases yearly, from 397 tons per day in 2013 to almost 800 tons in 2023.
She emphasized the need for waste to be managed at the village and household levels to reduce the burden on the landfill.
“Waste can be managed individually, and small-scale management can generate income,” she stated.
Dr. Wiratni opined that the government has made maximum efforts, and the support of citizens is essential in helping the government sort and process waste at the individual level.
“It’s not a matter of technology, but our society is unaware. We still think that as long as our waste is out of our homes, it’s not our problem,” Dr. Wiratni said.
She mentioned that about 80% of urban waste is organic waste. Education and campaigns are needed to encourage processing of organic waste into compost and liquid fertilizer.
“Generally, only about 10% of waste is unmanageable. If all residents of Yogyakarta sort and process waste independently, the landfill wouldn’t have to manage hundreds of tons of waste,” she explained.
Pulmonologist Ika Trisnawati, MD, stated that burning trash does not solve waste problems. On the contrary, burning trash can worsen air pollution and harm respiratory health.
“Pollutants from any form of burning are toxic when they enter the lungs and can result in mild to severe impacts,” she said.
“In the short term, it can increase the risk of acute respiratory diseases, and in the long term, it can increase the risk of cancer due to exposure to carcinogenic compounds.”
Dr. Emilya Nurjani mentioned that air pollution is a threat in Jakarta and other major cities. The severity of air quality is determined by the level of hydrocarbon gases in the air, compounded by the reduced rainfall during the dry season, which prolongs the dispersion of gases in the air.
Dr. Nurjani also agreed that burning trash and emissions from factories and power plants significantly contribute to poor air quality in urban areas.
“Burning, particularly the release of methane gas, can cause air pollution and contributes to climate change,” she concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto