Jakarta Globe, Lenny Tristia Tambun, May 21, 2013
Scavengers collect recyclable plastics at Bantargebang garbage dump in Bekasi, West Java on March 29. (EPA Photo/Mast Irham) |
A new
regulation in Jakarta imposes fines of up to Rp 50 million ($5,120) on illegal
dumping, while also implementing stricter mandates on eco-friendly bags,
biodegradable packaging, littering and waste management.
Unu Nurdin,
the head of the Jakarta Cleanliness Office, said the new rule, approved by the
Jakarta Legislative Council on Tuesday, mandates that rubbish be put in
designated locations and companies manage their waste, especially that which
can lead to pollution and environmental degradation.
“If
residents and companies do not meet their obligations, as arranged in the
regulations, they will face sanctions. The sanctions range from administrative
ones to fines of between Rp 500,000 to Rp 50 million,” Unu said after a plenary
meeting of the City Council.
Article 126
of the regulation prohibits dumping waste into waterways and water reservoirs,
streets, parks and public areas. It also says that waste must be disposed in
integrated waste dumps (TPST) and final dump sites (TPA) between 6 a.m to 9 p.m.
“It is also
prohibited to dispose waste at the TPST or TPA without a permit, burn waste
that pollutes the environment, throw waste from a vehicle, use parts of streets
as temporary waste dumps, manage waste that leads to pollution or environmental
degradation,” Unu said.
Neighborhood
units known as Rukun Warga were also given the authority to slap administrative
sanctions on those households which fail to separate their waste into organic
and inorganic.
Those
responsible over the management of residential, commercial, industrial and
other special areas, who are found negligent in providing facilities for waste
management will also incur administrative sanctions and fines of between Rp 10
million to Rp 50 million.
Operators
of public and social facilities which fail to provide facility for waste
separation will incur administrative sanctions and fines of between Rp 1
million to Rp 5 million.
Manufacturers
which fail to display matters related to reducing waster or waste handling on
their packaging, or use packaging that cannot naturally decompose, may face
administrative sanctions as well as fines of Rp 25 million to Rp 50 million.
Shopping
center operators who do not use environmentally-friendly shopping bags will
also face administrative sanctions as well as fine of between Rp 5 million and
Rp 25 million.
“The
governor can issue administrative sanctions, including fines, on individuals
who intentionally dump waste outside of the allowed time, of up to Rp 100,000,”
Uno said.
Litterers,
including dumping waste into water ways and reservoirs, on the streets, in
parks or in public areas, face a fine of Rp 500,000
Those
caught littering from vehicles will also face the same fine. Salvagers working
on piles or mounds of waste can also face a fine of a similar amount if they
spread the waste.
“These
fines will be sent to the regional treasury in line with the regulations and
laws. We want the public to be waste conscious, so that we can also reduce
floods in Jakarta,” he said.
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