1,600 factories guilty of dumping toxic waste

1,600 factories guilty of dumping toxic waste

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta City Deputy Governor for Economic and
Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais said yesterday that at least
1,600 factories in Jakarta are guilty of dumping poisonous waste.

"Considering the figure, there is a lot that we must do," Rais
admitted.

Rais was speaking during a signing ceremony of a document
affirming a commitment on proper waste management between
industrial companies and the Environmental Impact Management
Agency (Bapedal).

At least 100 big industries in Jakarta and surrounding areas,
including Texmaco, Argo Pantes, Garuda Indonesia and Chandra
Asri, have signed the pledge to obey government regulations on
poisonous waste management.

During the past 25 years many structural changes have taken
place, including in the social, economic and physical
environments, Rais said.

"But frankly speaking we have to admit that progress in one
area has not yet produced an agreeable picture in other fields,
particularly that of the environment. We have felt the effect of
air pollution caused by traffic. And from the media we learn that
certain places are running out of water. In addition, we have
water pollution in Jakarta's rivers. These things give us cause
for concern," Rais said.

Rais added that the pollution problem in Jakarta is growing
exponentially.

The document, according to Rais, will help local
administrations and related institutions speed up the process of
managing poisonous waste in the city.

Bapedal chairman Nabiel Makarim said that the pledge was a
result of the "partnership approach" outlined by the Ministry of
Environment to ensure the implementation of the existing
regulations on waste management.

"For those who refuse to accept the policy we will take the
legal approach," Nabiel promised.

Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said that big
companies in Jakarta, Bandung and their surrounds must complete
their hazardous waste treatment plants by December this year.

"The government will bring any companies violating the
government decree on hazardous waste management into court if
they fail to have waste treatment facilities by December this
year," he told reporters.

PT PPLI

The general director of the state-owned aircraft company IPTN,
A. Widyanarso Doeriat, said IPTN has negotiated for certain
categories of its waste products to be treated by the PT Prasadha
Pamunah Limbah Industri (PPLI), a waste treatment company jointly
owned by Waste Management International of Britain, and PT
Bimantara Citra, a private firm owned by Bambang Trihatmodjo and
the Bapedal.

PPLI, which began operating in January last year, is located
in Cileungsi, West Java. It is the first plant of its kind in
Indonesia and reportedly the largest in Southeast Asia.

"We send our waste to PPLI because we cannot treat the waste
ourselves. Besides, it is more economical," Doeriat said, adding
that the cost is being negotiated. (01)