Tangerang gives Jakarta dump site
Multa Fidrus, Tangerang
The Tangerang administration is preparing 200 hectares of vacant land in four villages in Sepatan district to be used as dumps for some of Jakarta's garbage, which reaches 6,000 tons per day.
An official of the Tangerang Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Doddy Hermiyono, said on Friday that the chiefs of Pisangan Jaya, Sarakan, Kayu Agung, and Kayu Bongkok villages claimed that their residents had agreed to the plan.
The vacant land was previously used by illegal sand miners, who left huge pits there due to their activities. "Residents want the land to be utilized," said Naryo, head of Kayu Bongkok village.
According to Naryo, non-governmental organization People's Movement for Environmental and Human Mandate Care (Gema Palu) was the initiator of the plan.
Gema Palu chairman Haris Mansyur said a preliminary feasibility study had been conducted by staff members of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT).
Nevertheless, an official of the Tangerang Sanitary Agency, Trimanto, said that more advanced studies needed to be conducted on garbage-handling, traffic to the sites, and the necessary precautions to limit its negative impact.
"The management of the dumps and the Jakarta administration must be consistent in using proper garbage-processing technology," he said. "The case of Bantar Gebang should not be repeated in Tangerang."
Bantar Gebang in Bekasi, West Java, is the current location of the capital's main dump. In January, the 104-hectare site closed down after its contract expired and nearby residents protested against its environmental impact.
The dump, which uses a landfill system, was reopened on Jan. 27, following a new agreement between the Jakarta and Bekasi administrations. Residents agreed to allow garbage trucks to enter the site after Bekasi administration promised to pay Rp 50,000 (US$5.55) per month to every family in the area.
Jakarta has been preparing an alternative dump in Bojong village, Bogor regency, despite sharp criticism from locals. The dump will use bale-press technology to minimize environmental damage and accommodate up to 2,000 tons of waste per day.
Operation of the Bojong dump was initially scheduled for after the general election on April 5, however the dump is not open yet.