The scavengers in Bantar Gebang landfill, Bekasi, West Java seem vigorous when they receive garbage, especially from Jakarta. Among others is 42-year-old Maroyi from Karawang.

In his life, never he wanted to be a scavenger. Long ago he went to Jakarta to find a decent life. Yet, Maroyi did not have any skills or education. He ends up working as scavenger in Bantar Gebang.

Living among the garbage is not that easy. Maroyi’s wife, Rodiah, could not eat for days when Maroyi first became scavenger. The stinking smell made her sick. “But, I could do nothing. We must be grateful and appreciate every single thing in life,” Rodiah said.

Apart from the stinking smell, they also face the lacking of clean water. The water that they get by drilling the land around their house is polluted. They unfortunately still should pay 150,000 IDR per month for the stinking smell house. “It is better to pay than getting expelled,” Maroyi said.

He often disputes over the area of the garbage with other scavengers. “I caught in a fight with other scavenger because he thought that I took over his area. It often happens,” he said.

He actually intends to go back to his village. But he does not know what to do in his village. He chooses to stay in Jakarta as a scavenger than to be an idle man.

Slowly, Maroyi and his family get used to the smell and living with the garbage. Garbage and stinking smell become the part of their life. It has been eight years since he first worked as scavenger in Bantar Gebang. Until today, the garbage supports their life.

Every day, Maroyi seeks renewable garbage. Then, he hands the garbage that he finds to the collector once in 15 days. He usually gets 30,000 IDR a day. His income is only enough for food. He cannot afford other needs. “The most important thing is that we can eat,” he said.

Not many things that Maroyi can do. Only his intention and diligence become the spirit to change his destiny. Hope is open when Maroyi is trusted to distribute the garbage to processing place in Serpong or Tangerang. Hopefully…

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