Gov’t to Re-Send Illegal Waste

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya answers questions from the reporters after atending the Limited Cabinet Meeting, at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Jave, Tuesday (27/8). (Photo by: Rahmat/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his Cabinet to conduct the strict monitoring on waste import with an aim of protecting the people’s lives.

“President Jokowi said that the most important thing is to protect our people’s lives. There will be no tolerance for imported waste contaminated with toxic or hazardous materials,” Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar told reporters after attending a Limited Cabinet Meeting on Waste Import, at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday (27/8).

According to the Minister, the Government has re-exported 400 containers of illegal waste and there are 1,262 to 1,380 more containers to be inspected. If the inspection results show that there is illegal waste that floods Indonesia, it will be re-sent immediately, she said.

“The Government does not reject imports of plastic and paper scrap. The problem is that the waste is carried by illegal waste, including used diapers, used infusion bottles, ampoules, and used batteries,” the Minister said.

The imported scraps, she continued, came from developed countries, such as the United States, Australia, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, and others. For that reason, Ministry of the Environment and Forestry will coordinate with Ministry of Foreign Affairs on addressing the issue of waste import.

Siti Nurbaya added there will be technical directives, among others improving the inspection system, the survey system in its country of origin, and the use of domestic waste as raw materials for industries. “The Government is making effort to address the paradox between the need for raw materials and the issue of environmental protection,” she added.

The imports of raw materials for industry should be homogeneous which needs zero tolerance for waste import. “The Government will not tolerate hazardous and toxic waste (B3),” she said.

On that occasion, Siti Nurbaya acknowledged that the Government wanted that waste content should be mixed by a maximum of 2-2.5 percent within two years. “This issue will be discussed at the echelon one level,” the Minister added. (HIM / RAH / ES)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas