TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has inaugurated a pilot project for waste collection machine in Cengkareng Drain area, Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta on Monday, May 13, 2019. The project is called the River Clean-Up System and is originated from the Netherlands.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan explained that the 300,000 Euros machine still meeds to be improved and adjusted to match conditions in Indonesia.

"It still needs improvement, but the model is already good," said Luhut after inspecting the machine that looked similar to a barge with a conveyor belt in the middle to absorb trash in the river.

After the trial was completed, Luhut expected the system to be replicated and deployed in 14 Jakarta rivers that flow to the sea, including the Jakarta bay. "So it will help to clean up garbages," Luhut added.

Moreover, based on the information he received, Jakarta produces 700 to 800 tons of trash every day. Meanwhile, the floating trash collector could absorb 10 tons of trash within eight hours, or equals to 30 tons per day.

The machine would also be applied in Central Java, East Java, and Bali. "Not only in Jakarta but also in Bali where the waste issue is worrying and other regions as well," he noted.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said that the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) would run a study on the trash collector machine before putting it on mass production. "It's important to conduct a research first, and that's planned to complete this year," she said.

CAESAR AKBAR