The Story of a Garbage Man in Jakarta. BBC Two Special Review : The Toughest Place to be A Binman

Wilbur with Imam pick up trash in residential area

The story of a garbage man named Imam Syafii in Jakarta, which aired a special review by the British media, BBC Two. Compare those impressions profession garbage in Jakarta with a garbage man in London, England. Impressions, entitled 'The toughest Place to be A Binman' was aired on Sunday (29 / 1) at around 21:00 local time. One of the London dustman named Wilbur Ramirez came to Athens and try to live his profession as a garbage man in Jakarta's crowded, it does so accompanied by a Imam, a fellow garbage man from Jakarta for 10 days.

In London, Wilbur used to working with advanced equipment and he ride an automated junk car with air-conditioned and he work with his partner. But in Jakarta, Wilbur must abandon everything and working hard by heat with a simple equipment. Every day, Wilbur with Imam leave early to pick up trash in residential area. Wilbur amazed with Imam effort, that is able to pull the wagon Imam waste alone under the scorching sun and with bare feet. "Rubbish!" shouted the Imam tells his arrival to the citizens. Then remove the plastic trash their citizens and he were put into the wagon.

Wilbur at Bantar Gebang

Wilbur at Bantar Gebang

Wilbur says that during the 10 days he worked assisting Imam, Wilbur said, Imam jobs in Jakarta is very heavy. He also admitted Imam for the greatness. 


"Imam work twice as hard. This is really a very hard day and I thought I could not do during the day, I only do it for two or three turns and I was exhausted," said Wilbur as he shed tears when told experience in Jakarta, as quoted by the BBC on Monday (1/30/2012).

Wilbur Said, every day Imam must fill his cart with trash. He even had to commute to a residential area 3 times to take all garbage. Wilbur think, by taking the garbage out of 100 homes, Imam receive wages from the local Head of Household. Wilbur was surprised to find out the amount of wages received by Imam, ie IDR 200 thousand, or only about U.S. $ 22 per week. 

Imam and Wilbur

During 10 days in Jakarta, Wilbur also lived with Imam family in the slums. Wilbur was surprised again when visiting a garbage dump in Bantar Gebang. He was amazed how people can easily move in a place full of garbage in such a way. 

http://www.detiknews.com/read/2012/01/30/134058/1829266/1148/kisah-tukang-sampah-di-jakarta-ditayangkan-oleh-tv-inggris?nd992203605