Household tips for cleaning up our city

The Jakarta Post

Households are the cornerstone of our city. How they manage their waste in turn affects city sanitation. In the last of three guides, The Jakarta Post's Adianto P. Simamora, Anissa S. Febrina and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak provide tips on how households can keep the city clean.

Waste management

- Start sorting your own garbage, provide two separate bins for organic and non-organic waste.

- To avoid scavengers creating mess, observe your garbage man's schedule and take out your already sorted garbage when he comes around.

Septic tank

- Make sure your septic tank is located at least 10 meters from wells or water pumps. - For a family of five, the standard size of your septic tank should be no less than one cubic meter. - Empty your septic tank every two years. - To ensure that liquid waste doesn't mix with groundwater, build a seepage pit.

Sources: Indonesian Architects Association, BPPT, WWF Indonesia Power Switch campaign, www.epa.gov, Drinking Water and Sanitation Working Group, Waspola, Public Works Ministry, various sources.