Jakarta Deploys Thousands for Christmas Cleanup
Reported by Fakhrizal Fakhri | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Jakarta Environmental Agency has assigned 1,050 janitors to churches and holiday sites throughout the city.
They (janitors) are on standby at 591 churches
It is intended to tackle potential waste increases and ensure a peaceful Christmas worship experience for Christians.
Jakarta Environmental Agency Head, Asep Kuswanto said that such readiness underscores the Jakarta administration’s dedication to excellence in public service.
Jakarta Hosts Light Festival to Celebrate Christmas and New YearAligned with Governor’s instructions, the move is designed to guarantee a peaceful, secure, and pleasant Christmas 2025 by maintaining peak city cleanliness during significant religious events.
"They (janitors) are on standby at 591 churches across Jakarta’s five regions. To support it, we have assigned 42 dump trucks and placed trash receptacles at strategic points," he expressed, Wednesday (12/24).
Further, the agency has instructed 25 personnel in each sub-district to conduct intensive monitoring and sanitation management at churches within their respective jurisdictions.
To ensure a clean and comfortable environment for Christmas Eve services, additional personnel have been deployed to major churches, particularly in Central Jakarta.
High-capacity teams—comprising 40 personnel and two mini dump trucks each—are on standby at the Cathedral and GPIB Immanuel Gambir, while the Senen GSJA CWS and Hati Kudus Kramat churches are supported by 25 personnel and two mini dump units each.
In South Jakarta, sanitation maintenance is focused on Kebayoran Baru GKI, Santa Perawan Maria Ratu Catholic Church (Blok Q Parish), Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and Indonesian Baptist Church in Kebayoran Blok Q.
The agency has stationed 25 cleaners and two mini dump trucks at each location, managed directly by the local sub-district heads.
"For East Jakarta, specifically at HKBP Sutoyo and Santo Antonius Otista Raya, at least 10 personnel are on duty, with the official noting that numbers will fluctuate based on crowd density," he added.
Beyond houses of worship, the agency is also overseeing sanitation for several large-scale public Christmas festivities. These include the Christmas Carol Colossal Vol. 2.0 at the FX Sudirman pedestrian zone on December 23, and the Jakarta Light Festival at Bundaran HI from December 23 to 27. At each venue, 20 janitors and one inorganic waste truck have been stationed.
"Our aim is to ensure the community can enjoy a peaceful and solemn Christmas, while the city stays pristine and orderly from start to finish," he stated.
