Waste law 'will reduce floods'

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government expects a bill threatening fines and jail time for those who dispose of garbage in rivers can help prevent recurring flood problems.

State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said the absence of regulations on garbage disposal was behind current flood disasters in several regions.

He said garbage-clogged rivers triggered flooding, especially in urban areas.

"It is common for people to dump garbage into river," he said at a press conference on Friday.

"That's why, once we have the waste management law, I promise to implement it seriously. There won't be any compromise as regards violators."

A first-ever bill on garbage is expected to be passed this year.

Rachmat said he would "urge the House of Representatives to pass it into law within two months" and that implementation would follow as soon as possible thereafter.

The draft bill submitted by the government deals with reduction and disposal of garbage and covers the daily activities of the general public. It prohibits dumping and burning garbage in open areas.

The law would require households to separate organic and non-organic garbage.

Garbage in the country's urban areas, most of which comes from households, has long been a sensitive issue.

The sanctions available for improper garbage disposal will be further elaborated within regional ordinances.

As a basic outline, the law provides that bringing waste into Indonesian territory is punishable with a fine of up to Rp 2 billion (US$212,000) or five years in prison.

Fines of Rp 1.5 billion or a three-year sentence would apply to those operating recycling and other waste businesses without permits from the ministry.

The ministry reported that garbage disposed into the country's 36 largest rivers contributes to their severe pollution.

The recent floods and landslides that struck Central and East Java killed over 100 people while the overflowing of Java's longest river, the Bengawan Solo, displaced tens of thousands.

The ministry said Java would remain prone to landslides during rainy seasons.

According to a ministry count, there are some 600 flood and landslide high risk areas in East Java, 531 such areas in Central Java and 430 in West Java.

It is estimated that Indonesia produces some 21,000 tons of household waste daily.

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) suggested the bill also include provisions on recycling in connection with the production of consumer goods to help reduce household garbage.

Meanwhile, lawmakers suggested the government promote the use of high-tech waste treatment plants to deal with rising waste.

The bill currently provides that regions producing 1,000 tons or more of daily waste have waste treatment plants.