Expert group discussion to acquire knowledge for improvement of sanitation systems in Bandung

Abstract

Solid waste from Bandung, inhabited by 2,2 million people, is very large. In order to reduce the amount, the government promotes community based recycle-reuse-reduce (3R) such as individual and community composting, and communal septic tank. These efforts have not success yet. Then, Expert Group Discussion to obtain a comprehensive overview in solving the problems was held. The problems to be discussed are institution, Public Participation, and Infrastructure & Technology that are delivered by related local government offices. In can be highlighted that coordination between central and local government is required to be intensified for the sake of improvement on sanitation conditions. Similarly, cooperation with neighboring government can reduce conflict for disposing solid waste at the peripheral of the city. In order to prolong the use of the final disposal site, public participation to reduce their waste through in-house composting or other creative ways on 3R should be promoted. Composting technology can convert organic waste mixed with domestic sludge to be fertilizer. So improvement on sanitation can be achieved by synergy of Institution, public participation and application of appropriate technology.