Residents ask that waste be processed elsewhere

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

Residents living near the abandoned Pondok Cabe bus terminal in Pamulang district, Tangerang regency, strongly oppose the regental administration's plan to use the site to accommodate a waste treatment facility.

A representative of the residents, Gunawan, said on Tuesday that residents from four community units would suffer if the plan were implemented as the air would be heavily polluted with the putrid smell of waste being processed there, even though incinerators would be used.

"The incinerators, which will produce heat, will be installed near (state oil and gas firm) Pertamina gas pipelines that run close to the terminal," he said, adding that there was always a possibility that the pipelines could explode someday.

The residents held a meeting on Monday and decided to object to the plan. They will convey their rejection to the regency sanitation and parks agencies on Wednesday during a meeting at which the agency is slated to officially introduce the plan to the residents.

People living near Bantar Gebang dump, Bekasi municipality, and Bojong dump, Bogor regency, opposed their respective administration's plans to allow Jakarta to dump its daily waste at the two sites, claiming that the practice damaged the environment and caused health problems for residents.

Sanitation agency head Hermansyah claimed he understood the locals' reason for objecting to the plan but said that his agency would set up incinerators on the unused terminal to process nonorganic waste, including plastic, into concrete bricks.

"The incinerators can recycle up to five trucks of plastic waste collected daily from Ciputat and other markets. The waste is left over from that sent to the Jati Waringin dump in Mauk district," he said.

Besides the locals, Indonesian Builders Association (Gapensi) regency chapter chairman Adang Iskandar also opposed the plan.

He said the terminal, built in 1994, was located in a residential area. If the administration converted the terminal to a waste treatment facility, it would affect the locals' health.

"I have a responsibility to oppose it because we almost came to blows with the locals when building the terminal," he said.

Adang also suggested the administration build a sports center at the site of the former terminal as it would be more beneficial for residents.

Since it was completed in 1996, the terminal has barely been used. Drivers of public minivans and buses refused to enter the terminal because the road access was very narrow.