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.