Bekasi sniffs profits in Bantar Gebang dump<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Learning from the Jakarta administration's poor waste management,
\nBekasi municipal administration will set up a city-owned company
\nto convert Jakarta's waste at the Bantar Gebang dump into
\nfertilizer and electricity.<\/p>\n
Bekasi deputy mayor Mochtar Mohamad said on Monday that the
\ncompany would aim to manage the waste to minimize environmental
\ndamage surrounding the dump and to get extra income.<\/p>\n
He also said that Bekasi would likely hire experts from
\nJakarta for the project.<\/p>\n
Bekasi has insisted on closing the 104-hectare dump after its
\ncontract with Jakarta expires on Dec. 31, although Jakarta
\noffered to pay Rp 25 billion (US$2.94 million) to continuing
\nusing it.<\/p>\n
Mochtar said that Jakarta would only be allowed to dump its
\n6,000 tons of daily waste at the Sumur Batu dump, owned by Bekasi
\nmunicipality, for a six-month period.<\/p>\n
"If Jakarta administration wants to dispose of its garbage at
\nSumur Batu, it must pay the price, but the figure is still being
\ncalculated," Mochtar was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Only four hectares of the 10-hectare area of Sumur Batu dump
\nhas been allocated for Bekasi's rubbish. Up to 2,000 tons of
\ngarbage is dumped on the four-hectare area each day.<\/p>\n
Bekasi Municipal administration spokesman Cecep Sutandi
\nclaimed that the dump uses a landfill system.<\/p>\n
However, a recent analysis from non-governmental organization,
\nthe Environment Community Union (ECU), revealed that water taken
\nfrom the wells of residents in the area contained coliform
\nbacteria, cyanide, chloride, cadmium, chrome, zinc and mercury,
\nwhich are believed to derive from the dump.<\/p>\n
The contaminated water has allegedly killed vegetation in the
\narea and caused locals to suffer from skin problems.<\/p>\n
ECU director, Benny Tunggul, said that the real problem behind
\nBantar Gebang dump was that its waste wasn't managed efficiently.<\/p>\n
"If the waste is managed professionally, there won't be any
\nenvironmental damage," he said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso told a plenary meeting of the City
\nCouncil that his administration had talked over the matter
\nintensively with Bekasi.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso did not go into details, but assistant to the city
\nsecretary for development affairs, Irzal Djamal, said that the
\ntalks focused on the possible extension of the use of the dump
\nand processing the existing garbage.<\/p>\n
"We want to convert the existing garbage into compost and
\nliquid fertilizer before we use the area for Jakarta's waste
\nagain," he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has used Bantar Gebang as a dump site since 1986. Two
\nyears ago, Bekasi closed down Bantar Gebang, the ensuing waste
\ncrisis in the capital ended with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's intervention. Bekasi argued that the dump caused
\nwidespread pollution and was detrimental to the public's health.<\/p>\n
Jakarta paid Rp 22 billion in compensation for the use of
\nBantar Gebang in 2002 and 2003.<\/p>",
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