Bekasi OKs Jakarta to use its dump

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Bekasi municipality administration sent a letter to Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso on Friday, notifying him that the capital would be allowed to dump its daily 6,000 tons of garbage at the 104- hectare Bantar Gebang dump.

The letter is an anticlimax to the on-and-off dispute between Jakarta and Bekasi. Jakarta decided to close down the dump on Sunday after Bekasi demanded that Jakarta pay a waste processing fee of Rp 85,000 (US$10) per ton of garbage.

The letter, dated Jan. 8 and signed by Bekasi Mayor Akhmad Zurfaih, said that the neighboring city administration along with Bekasi councillors and city leaders had taken "necessary measures to overcome problems in the field".

"Based on observation, the situation in the field is conducive ... We think the Bantar Gebang dump can resume operation, as in the joint agreement between the administrations of Jakarta and Bekasi dated Dec. 22," the letter said.

Other operational technicalities in the field will be discussed by teams from both administrations within 30 days of the resumption of dumping activities by Jakarta, it said.

Sutiyoso, however, did not appear enthusiastic about Bekasi's offer, saying his administration had yet to take any action on the offer.

"I will check it," he said tersely.

He said that Jakarta would accept the offer if Bekasi agreed to adhere to the conditions stated in the joint agreement.

Sutiyoso gave Bekasi four months to settle the debate surrounding the use of Bantar Gebang dump by Jakarta.

In the meantime, Jakarta has started dumping its garbage at alternative dumps on open, swampy land in Cilincing and Rorotan, both in North Jakarta.