Companies to face trial over toxic waste
Companies to face trial over toxic waste
eony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A group of lawyers will sue at the Cibinong District Court, Bogor
regency, on Tuesday large companies for allegedly producing
untreated toxic waste that had polluted the air and groundwater
in Munjul, east of Jakarta.
Public Interest Environmental Lawyers (PIEL), acting on behalf
of the E-LAW Indonesia non-governmental organization, accused PT
Nasional Panasonic Gobel Indonesia and PT Indo Lysaght of
violating government regulation No. 18/1999 on the treatment of
hazardous and toxic materials.
In a draft of the suit made available to The Jakarta Post on
Monday, the lawyers have also named the Office of the State
Minister of the Environment and the City Environmental Impact
Management Agency as would-be accused because of their alleged
failure to uphold the regulation.
The owner of small waste recycling business UD Kurnia, Maslan
Helmi, who had been convicted in 2002 of illegally recycling
hazardous materials -- including electronics and batteries -- and
Nani Lope, owner of the now-closed recycling business CV Sumber
Utama, East Jakarta, will also be charged under this lawsuit.
"UD Kurnia bought the waste from the first and second parties
(PT Indo Lysaght and PT Nasional Gobel Indonesia), so why weren't
the two companies charged as well?" asked Maulana Adam Humaidy,
executive director of PIELs on Monday in Jakarta,
Article 1, Chapter 60 of ruling No. 18/1999 said that the
producers, as well as collectors and users, of hazardous waste
must immediately manage pollution or environmental destruction
due to their activities.
The Munjul case made headlines three years ago as residents
complained about bitter-tasting groundwater and outbreaks of
disease, such as rashes, ulcers, headaches and digestion
problems, plus a foul stench in the air. They highlighted toxic
waste pollution as the culprit.
An assessment made by the environmental impact management
agency found heavy metal in the wells around the area.
A sample of water, taken in November 2000, showed it contained
2,758 parts per million (ppm) of lead and 4,078 ppm of zinc. The
allowable level of the metal in the water is only 0.05 ppm and 15
ppm respectively.
PT Indo Lysaght, according to PIELS, produces zinc oxide, a
material for tires.
One of PIEL's demands in the lawsuit is that the companies, as
toxic waste producers, bear the greatest responsibility in
restoring the damaged environment.
"The phase for advocacy to society on environmental matters
has passed. Now is the time to take serious action against
polluting companies," said a PIEL member who wished to remain
anonymous.