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.