Urgent need for garbage laws

JAKARTA: Waste management expert Sri Bebassari on Thursday called for an immediate drafting of a waste management law to solve the myriad of waste problems the country faced.

She said the drafting of waste management laws in other countries involved numerous state departments because of the importance of the problem.

"The waste law in Japan was drafted by 15 ministers. This shows a serious attention into the issue," Sri said.

In the Philippines, she said, similar law was drafted by officials from 13 institutions.

The Ministry for the Environment had been drafting an academic paper on the issue and would follow it up as soon as possible. Its move was supported by legislators, she said.

Sri said the endorsement of the draft would make clear which institutions should be held accountable for waste problems. -- Antara