Straits Times November 02, 2012
Jakarta. Recycling is largely unheard of in Indonesia, but this will soon change.
Each of its more than 500 cities and districts must now produce a recycling master plan. These must detail how they would reduce, recycle and reuse, as well as separate, collect and transport household trash under new regulations announced by the Environment Ministry Thursday.
Cities and districts can no longer use open dumping sites for household waste. Instead, they must build sanitary landfills, Masnellyarti, deputy to the Environment Minister, said during a press briefing.
Officials admit that implementing the rules will be a challenge. The latest move comes as more Indonesians move to towns and cities, and littering and dumping become widespread.
The government is mindful of appearing environmentally-conscious, making commitments to sustainable forestry and emissions reduction, among others.
"Forming environmentally conscious behavior in society could take years, but we must start now as it involves a change in lifestyle and culture," Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said.
Citing the practice of commuters tossing cups and snack wrappers from the windows of moving vehicles, he compared them to people in developed countries.
"They have stopped doing that for a long time," he said. "Why can't we do that now?"
Under the rules, garbage disposal points to be built will have waste separated into hazardous, biodegradable, recyclable and reusable categories. Regular pick-up times must be scheduled.
Companies must use either biodegradable packaging or a system where consumers are encouraged to return their packaging — such as plastic bottles — for recycling, said Masnellyarti. She praised one Indonesian mineral water company which buys back its used plastic bottles.
The new rules also ban the rampant traditional burning of household trash that goes on even in the capital Jakarta. Each city or district will add detailed regulations to its bylaws.
Ministry officials say some 6,500 tons of garbage are collected in Jakarta every day, and this is only about 70 percent of the city's estimated trash load.
Urban planning expert Yayat Supriatna welcomed the news.
But he said: "Serious efforts are needed to ensure the necessary follow-ups — from public campaigns to having adequate garbage bins throughout city areas."
He said one reason why residents often burn their trash is because garbage collectors do not show up for days and the rubbish just piles up.
Companies have expressed some misgivings regarding the rules on biodegradable packaging as it costs more, said a senior environment ministry official who helped to draft the rules and gathered input from the private sector during the process. He declined to be named.
The regulations also concern scavengers, known as pemulung, who pick through waste dumped on the streets, under bridges and even in rivers and sell it to informal "recycling" centers that resell metal or plastic.
Pemulung in big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung focus on certain items such as used plastic cups, bottles and scrap steel.
"We are discussing this issue with some of them... We will not make pemulung lose their jobs," said Sudirman, head of the waste management department at the environment ministry.
Asked if they might be given jobs like recycling attendants, he said it was too early to tell.
Reprinted courtesy of The Straits Times
vr 2 nov 2012 - 6:57
