Copyright tempo
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents living around the Rorotan RDF waste processing facility in Jakarta are planning to demonstrate on November 10, 2025. They are demanding that the project be halted due to the foul odor and air pollution it produces."This is the second protest, urging for the closure of Rorotan RDF," said Wahyu Andre Maryono, Forum Warga Coordinator, when contacted by Tempo on Monday, November 3, 2025.The trial process of Rorotan RDF has been ongoing since October 1, 2025. The Jakarta Environmental Office claims that this process is carried out using emission control and odor removal equipment. But Wahyu said the reality is far from that."The loading and unloading of waste and its storage in the RDF warehouse or factory still produces a strong odor. We found that these processes are not in line with the agreed-upon standard operational procedures," said Wahyu.Wahyu mentioned that recently, many trucks are still using old compactor models, causing the trash to spill out as the doors to the back of this facility are not tightly closed. This could cause diseases and pollute the environment.Besides pollution, Wahyu said over 20 children living near the Rorotan RDF allegedly suffer from eye problems and respiratory infections due to the waste processing activities. They have been experiencing these symptoms since the end of October until early November 2025.Meanwhile, the Head of the Jakarta Environmental Office, Asep Kuswanto, previously mentioned that the trial of Rorotan RDF has been ongoing since October 1, 2025. The trial continued until the end of October and resumed in November. "In November 2025, the agency plans for Rorotan RDF to be ready for operation," said Asep on Friday, October 17, 2025.Rorotan RDF has three waste bunkers with a capacity of 2,500 tons per day, claimed to be the largest in the world. This facility can process about 875 tons of waste every 15 hours.According to Asep, the RDF conducted a phased trial, with the initial waste processed up to 30 tons per day; the capacity was then increased to up to 200 tons throughout the trial period. Prior to entering the trial phase in October, the Rorotan RDF management claimed to have added deodorizers to eliminate the odor complained about by residents. The waste processing infrastructure also strengthened its exhaust gas control system. There were also additional induced-draft fans to optimize the flow of gas towards the chimney.Defara Dhanya contributed to the writing of this articleEditor’s Choice: Jakarta to Operate Rorotan RDF Facility to Combat Microplastic PollutionClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
