Waste to be incinerated at new Bojong dump

Waste to be incinerated at new Bojong dump

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After a series of delays and tryouts, the management company for
Bojong dump in Bogor regency, PT Wira Guna Sejahtera, has decided
to start operating the site on Aug. 20 but changed the processing
method of Jakarta's 2,000 tons of daily waste from a high-tech
bale press to an incinerator.

Assistant to City Secretary for Development Affairs, IGKG
Suena, said on Monday that the reason for scrapping the
environmentally safe bale press technology was because Jakarta's
waste was not compatible with the machine.

Our garbage is not separated by organic and non-organic waste,
and sometimes it contains sharp materials including bamboo
shards, nails or scraps of iron which can damage the machine.

"We can accept the change. Our interest is in getting the
garbage processed," said Suena said.

However, reports said the company decided not to use the bale
press because it would cost Rp 40,000 (US$4.35) for each 1.2 tons
of trash. The dumping fee from the Jakarta administration is Rp
52,500 per ton so the operator did not think there would be
enough profit using the bale press machine.

Suena said there were three types of waste treatment
facilities at Bojong dump: The bale press machine, four
incinerators and a biofertilizer machine.

"Most of the trash will just be burnt in our incinerators," he
said.

The plan to operate Bojong dump, however, has been strongly
opposed by locals who fear they will suffer from environmental
damage and health problems.

Most of Jakarta's 6,000 tons of daily waste is disposed of at
the 100-hectare Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi, where those
problems have reportedly occurred.

Jakarta earlier purchased incinerators, which are used in at
least 10 subdistricts. But the incinerators have a limited
capability, because not all the trash fits inside them.