KLH Hands Over Wood-Chipping Machines for Driftwood Waste on Badung Beaches

Badung (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH) has handed over two wood chipper units to chip wood waste washed ashore from beaches in Badung Regency, Bali.

‘Let us work hard. Today we cannot do much to help Denpasar and Badung; through the Governor we have entrusted equipment to carry out the chipping of trees or branches that are not Bali’s waste,’ said Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq on the sidelines of a beach-cleaning operation at Jimbaran Beach, Badung, on Thursday.

The minister noted that the waste washed ashore on beaches is not actually the responsibility of the Bali Provincial Government or the Badung Regency Government. The waste is the responsibility of KLH, but to date this annual problem has not been resolved.

Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa expressed gratitude for the assistance because timber and bamboo waste have long been a type of washed-up debris that is difficult to manage due to their large size. ‘This will speed up the handling on beaches, because this timber waste often washes ashore as imported waste. With the wood chipper machines now, at least it will be easier for us,’ he said.

Furthermore, the Badung Regency Government plans to purchase another wood chipper machine to further support the acceleration of handling washed-up waste on beaches.

Acting head of the Badung Environmental and Sanitation Service (DLHK) Made Rai Warastuthi added that the total amount of washed-up waste on Badung beaches currently stands at 4,800 tonnes since the end of last year. This figure is 20 percent higher than the previous year, with wood and bamboo being the dominant waste types this year.

With the arrival of KLH’s aid machines, the Badung Regency Government plans to move these tools between beaches. ‘We will move them around wherever there is a lot of wood waste; we will take the waste. The shredded waste is small; it is easier to transport. Usually the community can request them, or if not, we can take it and burn it in the incinerator,’ he said.