Commission D: Jakarta River Trash Traps Must Reach Upstream

Jakarta Legislative Council Commission D Chairwoman Yuke Yurike backed the plan to build trash screens across 11 city rivers, but insisted the project must go hand in hand with upstream cleanup efforts.

Building them all at once is great

Highlighting the TB Simatupang pilot project, Yuke praised the system’s effectiveness.

“Replicating the current setup will be instrumental in intercepting floating debris long before it clogs the Manggarai sluice gate,” she expressed, Thursday (10/8).

Yuke Yurike Urges Residents to Take Good Care of RTH

She argued that tackling river pollution solely within the capital's borders is futile, as many of Jakarta's major waterways originate in upstream satellite cities like Bogor and Depok. As a result, cross-regional coordination is vital to address solid waste management and flood risks comprehensively.

“What matters most are the neighboring areas traversed by these rivers. Take the Ciliwung River, for instance; its water flows from Bogor and passes through Depok before reaching Jakarta,” she explained.

According to Yuke, her party has not yet reviewed the project. She called for a comprehensive feasibility study covering costs, priority rivers, and expected waste reduction.

“Building them all at once is great, but if that’s not possible, we must prioritize the most critical rivers to keep plastic waste from escaping into the ocean,” she added.

Yuke reaffirmed support for the project, but emphasized that funding must align with the city's financial bandwidth and public service needs.

“We're waiting for Jakarta government to submit detailed plans and studies so councilors can review the project thoroughly,” she closed.