Incentives offered in bill on waste
Incentives offered in bill on waste
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After holding a series of public hearings across the country, the
government has announced it will submit next month a bill on
waste management to the House of Representatives that offers
incentives for parties involved in managing garbage.
State Minister of the Environment Rahmat Witoelar said on
Monday the draft law was aimed at shifting the people's paradigm
on waste management, from applying an "end-of-the-pipe-solution"
-- disposal at open dumps -- to a new one.
"The new approach is 'four R' -- replace, reduce, reuse and
recycle," Rahmat said in a written statement read out by his
secretary Arief Yuwono at a discussion on the draft law.
"That way we can avoid waste-related disasters such as
occurred in Leuwigajah (Bandung) and Bantar Gebang and Bojong
(Bogor) dumps," he said.
The bill consists of 19 chapters, regulating the rights and
duties of the government, private sector and public in waste
management.
Hoetomo, Rahmat's deputy in charge of environmental
management, said the draft offered several breakthroughs in waste
management.
"The draft law regulates waste management from upstream to
downstream, from household to industry," said Hoetomo, who is
responsible for the bill's socialization process.
He explained that the draft law -- which referred to the same
laws in the Philippines, Japan and Britain -- required all people
to reduce and separate waste before disposing of it in dumpsters.
"Currently over 50 percent of solid waste is being disposed of
at dumps. After the law is enacted, we hope we can reduce the
figure to 30 percent," Hoetomo said.
He said the bill would push the government to encourage the
people and private sector to compost or recycle the remaining 70
percent of dumped trash.
The draft law, therefore, regulates incentives for parties
willing to be involved in waste management, he added.
"The incentives could be in the form of tax deductions, access
to financial sources and other motivations that could bring
economic and financial benefits," Hoetomo said.
Aside from the incentives, the draft law also stipulates
maximum prison terms and fines for individuals and institutions
that fail to comply with the regulations.
The bill also allows for a class action against the central
government and regional administrations, should they fail to
manage waste effectively.
"The main responsibility of waste management is in the
government's hands, and it is carried out by regional
administrations. Therefore, the law will regulate how the
government should be held accountable for its actions," Hoetomo
said.
Through the draft law, the government also proposes the
establishment of an independent commission to monitor waste
management across the country.
"Based on the magnitude of the issue, we need a body that can
work across sectors. That's why we need a national waste
management commission," Hoetomo said.
Key points of waste management bill
1. The draft law only regulates solid waste.
2. It requires the public and institutions to separate waste and
dump it in the right place at the right time.
3. The bill offers financial incentives for people and
institutions willing to manage waste.
4. The draft law allows class actions against the government and
regional administrations over improper waste management.
5. It also calls for the establishment of a national waste
management commission.