DLH Confirms Medical Waste in West Bandung Regency Is Not From Bandung City
The Bandung City Environmental Service Department (DLH) has confirmed that the medical waste found in West Bandung Regency (KBB) did not originate from Bandung City.
First, we can confirm that it is not medical waste from Bandung City. There is no connection with the waste management undertaken by the Bandung City Government (Pemkot Bandung),” said Darto, head of DLH Bandung, yesterday.
Moreover, Darto continued, the vehicles suspected of transporting the waste are not owned by the Bandung City Government. The vehicles described in several reports were yellow trucks. Meanwhile the PK2 fleet of Bandung City Unit uses closed 6-cubic-metre compactors.
“The DLH confirms that none of the PK2 fleet operates using yellow trucks or open-back vehicles. Therefore I can confirm that it is not a Bandung City Government fleet. Our system and fleet are clearly different,” he said.
According to Darto, in handling hospital waste, the UPT only transports domestic non-B3 waste.
Medical waste or B3 waste is handled by private vendors specialising in B3 waste transporters who have official licenses, are equipped with manifests and are supervised in accordance with applicable regulations. The fleet and transport mechanism for B3 waste are also different from the PK2 system used by Bandung City.
“Thus, in terms of management system and fleet, there is no link to the medical waste findings in the KBB area,” he added.
Darto added that the Bandung City Government is fully committed to waste management in accordance with statutory regulations. And ensuring that all processes of waste management, including medical waste, are conducted in an orderly manner and supervised in accordance with the provisions.
“We are committed to managing waste in line with the rules. We also ensure that no waste from Bandung City is dumped carelessly, thereby risking environmental contamination,” he asserted.
Darto said that DLH Bandung had previously planned to conduct direct checks at the site. However, because the site is currently under police investigation, the team did not approach to avoid misunderstandings or unnecessary suspicions.
As is known, police are investigating the disposal of medical waste that blocked a road in Kampung Cileunca, Tenjolaut Village, Cikalongwetan District, KBB. The waste is confirmed to have been deliberately dumped in the middle of the road and is now under the handling of authorities. (H-2)