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New garbage trucks ready to roll

Jakarta Post
2 minute read

The foul smell from passing garbage trucks is expected to decline with the procurement of 92 new garbage disposal trucks this month. 

Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo looked satisfied when he introduced the brand new trucks parked side by side with several old rusty trucks in the parking lot of Pulomas racetrack in East Jakarta on Wednesday.

“Garbage is a huge problem for us in Jakarta and you can see that our trucks are 20, 25 and even 30 years old. That is why we have bought these new trucks,” he said after jumping onto the driver’s seat of a new truck and driving it a few meters. 

The city’s Sanitation Agency used an electronic procurement system from the Government Procurement Regulatory Body (LKPP) in the purchase of the trucks. 

Jokowi said the city had planned to buy 82 trucks at a cost of Rp 46.1 billion (US$3.8 million) but were able to obtain 92 trucks and still save Rp 2.9 billion. “This means procurement using the e-catalog system is more efficient and quicker. These trucks are not enough, though. We plan to buy around 200 trucks next year,” he said. 

The 92 new trucks comprise 15 large arm-roll trucks, 24 small arm-roll trucks, 33 large dump trucks and 20 small dump trucks. In 2014, the agency plans to buy 49 large dump trucks, 52 small dump trucks, 50 large arm-roll trucks and 50 small arm-roll trucks. 

Six of the latest trucks come fitted with klaxon horns that will play “Jali-Jali”, a traditional Betawi tune. The trucks will have a scheduled circulation around the city’s neighborhoods collecting non-organic waste.

Jokowi said the age of the current trucks had hindered the work of the city’s Sanitation Agency as they were slow and frequently suffered from mechanical problems. 

Currently, the agency has 732 trucks, 538 of which are between 12 and 38 years old. The agency also uses around 340 trucks from outsourced companies to carry the garbage to the open landfill in Bantar Gebang in Bekasi, West Java. 

Unlike the many old trucks that are covered only by tarpaulin, the new trucks have trapezoid covers to prevent garbage from falling out. 

Rusjaeni, a recently recruited garbage-truck crewman, said he was happy about the specifications of the new trucks, particularly the under-floor storage unit to contain liquid waste from the garbage.

“This additional feature will prevent foul smells while on the streets. Currently, people complain about the stench from the dripping liquid waste,” he said. 

During the event, the Sanitation Agency also distributed three-color trash bins to a number of subdistrict heads for the separation of organic, non-organic and other waste, as well as grass carp eggs to help clear water hyacinth in the city’s reservoirs.

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