More hazardous waste enters RI

More hazardous waste enters RI

JAKARTA: Indonesia has been accepting more and more hazardous waste illegally imported from other countries after the economic crisis hit the country in 1997, a senior government official says.

Masnellyarti Hilman, deputy state minister for technical supervision of environmental management at the Office of State Minister for the Environment, said on Tuesday she had uncovered five cases of imported hazardous waste in the country between 1999 and 2000, while there were only four cases from 1989 through 1995.

"Our country has indeed become a target for hazardous waste disposal from companies in other countries as we have become poor and have a weak security system after the crisis," she said.

Nelly said many regional administrations had also been offered contracts to accept hazardous waste from other countries, and are offered a payment of about US$4 per cubic meter.

"Just two weeks ago, Banten was offered such a deal," she said

The import of hazardous waste is prohibited under Law No. 23/1997 on environmental management. -- JP