RI ships waste back to Holland<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Seventy-five containers of hazardous waste
\npiling up unclaimed in the Tanjung Priok port since 1993 was
\nfinally shipped back to the Netherlands by the Indonesian
\ngovernment yesterday.<\/p>\n
The waste had been the center of controversy between the
\ngovernment and environmentalists ever since its arrival more than
\ntwo years ago.<\/p>\n
It was sent back on the vessel KM Kedah in a ceremony attended
\nby Nabiel Makarim, the deputy chief of the Environmental Impact
\nManagement Agency; Sheila K Karwal, the economic attache of the
\nDutch Embassy and H.A. Parinding of the Jakarta Customs and
\nExcise Office.<\/p>\n
Parinding, who is in charge of handling smuggling cases, said
\nthat since 1993 there have been 205 containers of hazardous waste
\nunclaimed at Tanjung Priok, six at Belawan of North Sumatra and
\nfour at the Surabaya port.<\/p>\n
Of the 205 containers at Tanjung Priok, 150 are categorized as
\ntoxic and 55 non-toxic, Parinding said. Twenty five containers of
\nthe waste have been destroyed and more will be returned to the
\ncountries of origin, he added.<\/p>\n
According to Antara, the state has suffered a loss of about Rp
\n400 million (US$178,000) because it cannot bill the importers for
\nthe two and a half years storage of the waste.<\/p>\n
The agreement between the Indonesian and the Dutch governments
\nto return the waste to the Netherlands was announced by the
\nIndonesian Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.<\/p>\n
According to Sarwono, the Netherlands, in a goodwill gesture,
\nagreed to cover all costs, which include transportation and
\ndisposal of the waste in an environmentally sound manner.<\/p>\n
The 75 containers contain hazardous and non-recyclable waste
\nmatter such as medical waste, copper, zinc, lead and corrosive
\nwaste which will be traced back to exporters from the
\nNetherlands. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-ships-waste-back-to-holland-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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