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