300 industries in Bogor produce toxic waste: Agency

BOGOR (JP): Some 300 of the 800 industrial companies operating in Bogor regency produce hazardous and toxic waste, according to the Bogor branch of the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda).

The head of Bapedalda's air and soil contamination control section, Eran Subarna, disclosed on Tuesday that only 10 percent of the 300 companies had built their own liquid waste treatment installations.

About 100 of those 300 companies dump their waste at disposal sites in Nambo village, Gunung Putri, Bogor.

Eran said the 300 companies were currently under the supervision of his office.

Eran further pointed out that of the 800 companies, only 80 percent had set up a waste treatment installation.

He called on all related parties, such as village heads and district officials, to participate in the monitoring of industries producing toxic waste.

Meanwhile, Bapedalda vowed to continue monitoring the waste management systems of those companies through their monthly report to the agency.

According to a local regulation, the management of the firms is required to submit a monthly report on their waste production to the agency.

Referring to the air pollution in Bogor regency, Eran revealed that his agency's emission tests in Cibinong, Ciluar and Ciawi areas showed that vehicle emission rates went beyond the allowable limit.

"In Cibinong, for instance, the level of carbon monoxide has reached an alarming level, especially during the daytime. But that shouldn't scare the public as the level drops at night," he explained.

Asked about the air pollution around PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa in Citeureup and PT Semen Cibinong in Cileungsi, Eran said that the levels in both areas were still under the allowable limit.

Occasionally, however, pollution at the two locations was higher than normal due to leakages in the factories' facilities and a thick layer of smog resulting from heavy traffic, he added. (21)