A program aimed to tackle waste issues and break a life-long habit of throwing waste into waterways was introduced by the Palembang administration. Every weekend, public officials and residents comb through sewers and rivers, lifting up truck-loads of garbage, in hopes of not just cleaning the city, but changing people’s behaviour.
Palembang, SOUTH SUMATERA. Gotong royong is a program promoted by Palembang administration aimed at tackling waste issue and river rehabilitation. The program is held every weekend involving public officials and citizens led by Palembang mayor, Harnojoyo. Palembang has received several awards, including the nationally renowned Adipura award, for its efforts to keep the city clean.
The mutual clean up program has also taken the noble goal of changing the people’s habit of throwing their waste into rivers.
However, three years after the program was first introduced, waste issues in Palembang has yet to be resolved as people are still dumping their waste into nearby rivers and sewers, prompting a huge question mark on the effectiveness of the program.
A study conducted by the South Sumatera chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment shows, residents admit to getting rid of their waste into nearby rivers and channels, putting blame to the absence of a temporary landfill facility. The Palembang administration needs to put the program under review while making sure that the public has access to proper waste disposal facility. EKUATORIAL