February 11, 2026
JAKARTA – Residents have complained of foul odors and air pollution as the waste crisis at the Putri Cempo landfill in Surakarta, Central Java, worsens, marking the latest in a growing number of regions facing waste emergencies nationwide.
Andri Priyatno, head of a local neighborhood unit, said landfill operators have spent the past two months dumping waste in the eastern section of the facility, dangerously close to residential areas. At its nearest point, the dumping site is only about 20 meters from homes.
“The landfill has run out of space, so they are dumping waste near residential areas. Residents no longer know how to cope with the stench coming from the…