Kabupaten Tangerang, Oct. 5 -- Over 3,600 residents in Sindang Jaya, Tangerang District, have been diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) linked to toxic waste burning by illegal recycling workshops.

Head of the Sindang Jaya Community Health Center, Dewi Anita Etikasari, stated on Sunday that data collected from January to September 2025 showed a significant spike in respiratory infections.

Although the primary causes of URTI in Sindang Jaya are viral and bacterial infections, Dewi stated that the burning of waste by unauthorized recycling operators has led to severe air pollution, contributing to the rise in respiratory illnesses.

"The ash produced from the burning contains heavy metals such as mercury and lead, whic...