Jakarta to start dumping garbage in Bojong in January<\/p>\n
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor<\/p>\n
Strong opposition from locals did not deter the Bogor regency
\nadministration from allocating land in Bojong subdistrict to
\nJakarta to use as a dump starting January.<\/p>\n
"We have studied all aspects of the dump from the spatial plan
\nto the Environmental Impact Analysis and the technology to be
\nused for processing the waste," administration spokesman Mohammad
\nSjahuri said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The news is a relief for Jakarta, which has been facing the
\nfast-approaching Dec. 31 contract termination date for Bantar
\nGebang dump, Bekasi municipality, without an alternative site for
\nthe capital's garbage.<\/p>\n
The Bekasi administration has declined to extend the contract,
\npointing out that the dump had caused environmental damage and
\nendangered the people's health.<\/p>\n
The Bojong dump, however, can only accommodate around 1,500
\ntons of the capital's 6,000 tons of daily waste.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Hadi Wijaya, director of PT Wira Guna Sejahtera, a
\nsubsidiary of PT Wira Gulfindo Sarana, could not say when the
\nwaste processing facility would be installed in Bojong.<\/p>\n
PT Wira Gulfindo Sarana has been appointed by Jakarta to
\nmanage the waste processing, and has been vocal about its plan to
\nuse ball presses made using German technology to process
\nJakarta's waste.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the situation in Bojong was heated after residents
\nheard of the Bogor administration's approval.<\/p>\n
"The residents still oppose the plan to allow Jakarta to dump
\nits waste in our neighborhood," said Naih, a resident.<\/p>\n
Early this month, police fired warning shots during a protest
\nheld by residents against the plan to turn Bojong into a dump.<\/p>\n
Sofyan has stressed that the use of the ball press technology
\nwould minimize environmental damage. So far, Rp 85 billion (US$10
\nmillion) has been invested in the waste-processing machine<\/p>\n
"We won't let the waste pile up. All waste will be processed
\nevery day," he claimed.<\/p>\n
Each day, between 60 and 80 trucks will carry around 27 tons
\nper trip to the Bojong dump.<\/p>\n
Sjahuri also argued that opening the Bojong dump would provide
\njobs for up to 900 locals.<\/p>\n
"They can work as waste sorters and resell things that cannot
\nbe recycled. The company will also set up a cooperative unit for
\nthe sorters," he said.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Bogor's economy and development division head
\nSyarifah Sofiah said the administration would receive an annual
\ncompensation of Rp 1 billion from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At the end of 2001, Jakarta faced a waste crisis after Bekasi
\nclosed Bantar Gebang for several weeks because of the
\nenvironmental damage. The dispute ended only after President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri intervened, and Jakarta paid Rp 22 billion
\nin compensation to Bekasi.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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