Ministry of Environment gathers potential transitional technologies to address waste and methane issues
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat stated that his ministry is gathering potential transitional technologies to manage waste and address methane gas issues while awaiting the construction of Waste-to-Energy Electricity Processing (PSEL) facilities.
Responding to reporters’ questions after a meeting with former State Minister for Population and the Environment Emil Salim in Jakarta on Thursday, Environment Minister Jumhur said the government is preparing to build PSEL facilities at several locations, including a planned one in Jakarta to reduce waste ending up at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST).
“But the question now is what can be done in the next 2-3 years while waiting. This is also our homework, which is why we need transitional technologies that can ensure methane is reduced without waiting for those machines to operate,” Jumhur said.
Methane gas itself is produced from buried organic waste without further management. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases that contributes to climate change and can trigger landfill fires if extreme heat phenomena occur.
“This is what we are maturing in terms of steps. Among them are technologies developed by the nation’s children that can immediately eliminate it, especially methane gas, which we will work on,” he said.
On that occasion, Minister Jumhur also said he discussed the waste issue with Emil Salim. Especially because waste is one of the problems directly felt by the public and involves many stakeholders.
He mentioned that in today’s audience, they not only discussed waste reduction efforts but also its management to generate added value.
Not only that, they also discussed communities directly involved in waste management, such as scavengers, and the use of innovations that turn waste into other products like paving blocks.
Jumhur also explained that he received advice from Indonesia’s first Environment Minister to engage community groups in various environmental movements.
“Environmental movements should not belong to the Ministry of Environment alone, but environmental movements should belong to everyone. Especially, we must respect friends who voluntarily move to save the earth and save the environment,” said Jumhur Hidayat.