PLASTIC INDUSTRIES CALL FOR REVIEW OF PLASTIC BAG BAN

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 13 (Antara) - Plastic waste is difficult to decompose and poses a serious threat to the environment.          Therefore, the government hopes to find solutions to the problem of plastic waste, especially plastic bags that are widely used in shopping centers in Indonesia.         Now many cities in Indonesia are starting to implement regulations that prohibit or limit the use of plastic bags by the shopping centers.         However, the ban on the use of plastic bags will have a negative impact on the plastic industry business. Therefore, the Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) has asked regional governments to review the regulation.          Deputy Chairman of Inaplas, Suhat Miyarso, rejected the ban on plastic shopping bags introduced by several regional heads and requested for a review of the policy.          "Inaplas urged that the policy be replaced by efforts to improve the performance of waste management with all stakeholders," Miyarso stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 11).         Miyarso added that Inaplas appreciated the government's efforts to tackle the waste problem, as well as its concern about the behavior of the plastic users who were ignorant of the environment.

PLASTIC WASTE CAN BE A TIME BOMB

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 21 (Antara) - Plastic and Styrofoam products have made life so simple and easy for mankind. Plastic bags, plastic dishes, and plastic packages are among items that can make life trouble-free.          By using plastic wares, housewives and other residents can skip washing dishes. After use, plastic items can just easily be disposed of, especially into the sea, without causing trouble to maintain them. But not many are aware that it could have far-reaching repercussions. It is a time bomb.         After all, Indonesia is rated the second biggest plastic contributor to the sea after China. "We have thrown almost 160 million tons of plastic waste into the sea. One day, the Indonesian sea will contain more plastic than fish," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti stated in Mimika on Tuesday, while launching the corporate social responsibility (CSR) program of the United State-based copper and gold mining firm, PT Freeport Indonesia.          According to the minister, the plastic waste issue can become a time bomb for the Indonesian people if the waste disposed in the gullies and waters are not immediately handled.

INDONESIA LAUNCHES SEA WASTE CLEANING PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 24 (Antara) - As a sprawling country with over 17 thousand islands and about 70 percent of its territory comprising water areas, Indonesia is reportedly ranked second as the world's plastic trash contributor to the sea.          In a bid to clean its sea of the plastic waste, the government has conducted studies to determine best solutions to deal with sea garbage and formulated and launched an action plan. It will organize a workshop to deal with the problem of ocean trash.          Efforts are being made to deal with the issue of sea pollution caused by waste. Plastic garbage has a direct impact on the sustainability of the fisheries sector besides affecting the marine health and environment. Waste poses a threat to the existence of fish, mammals, sea birds, and coral reefs in the world.          The Indonesian government is committed to reducing plastic waste by at least 70 percent by the end of 2025. As of now, about nine million tons of waste is generated every year.          Indonesia produces almost 65 million tons of waste a year, of which about 14 percent or nine million tons is in the form of plastic trash.

TANGSEL CITY OFFERS US$29,000 FOR CREATIVE TRASH CONCEPT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 3 (Antara) - Garbage found anywhere in big cities is a headache as this could cause health problems or a catastrophe, such as floods that claim lives as has happened in Jakarta in recent years.          As a buffer town for the Indonesian capital city Jakarta, South Tangerang (Tangsel) Municipal City, Banten Province, is no exception. Tangsel City is growing rapidly and has a population of about 1.5 million.          The growing population is also coupled with increasing social problems, including waste, which continues to create a headache, with its volume reaching some 1,700 cubic meters every day.          The landfill (TPA), whose capacity is limited, in Tangsel City is no longer enough to accommodate refuse disposal.          The only TPA owned by Tangsel is the TPA Cipeucang in the Setu sub-dstrict. The 2.5 hectare TPA is expected to become full by the end of this year.          "Zone one of this landfill is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2016. We still have zone two, but it is still in the land clearance process," the Technical Unit Chief of the Cipeucang TPA, Khrisna was quoted as saying by Kompas.com last August.

INDONESIA SEEKING BETTER GARBAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is seeking ways to effectively handle millions of tons of garbage that piles up in the country every day.          Various ideas and concepts on garbage management have been raised in the country, but none of them have been successfully applied.       Therefore, President Joko Widodo, who is popularly called Jokowi, has urged the regional governments to prepare pilot projects that can be successfully implemented.          "Waste management should have been carried out through a systemic and integrated program. Cooperation in waste management among the central government, regional administrations, and the people is necessary," President Jokowi stated during a limited cabinet meeting on Tuesday.          With each individual disposing 0.7 kilograms of waste per day, Indonesia, with a population of 250 million, produces some 175 thousand tons of garbage daily, or about 64 million tons per annum.          In order to overcome this mounting refuse problem, President Jokowi has called on the regional governments to prepare pilot projects on garbage management that should be followed by communities and businesses.

FOREIGN FIRMS EYE RI OIL PALM WASTE BUSINESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 21 (Antara) - Indonesia is the world's largest crude palm oil (CPO) producer with an annual production of 25.5 million tons, but the commercial benefit of its oil palm refuse has not yet been maximally exploited.          A number of foreign companies, including from South Korea and Poland, have expressed interest in processing oil palm wastes to produce biomass energy and electricity.         The foreign investor companies which are exploring the opportunities included the EN3EN,  Daekwang Industries Co. Ltd of South Korea and PT Kepulauan Energi Lestari of Poland.          In Riau province, the South Korean government through EN3EN firm is interested in making investment with an initial fund worth US$50.1 million in this sector.          "EN3EN is the only company which wins the full support of the South Korean government in the development of energy conversion from oil palm wastes. We have begun to build a pilot project in Siak and Kampar of Riau province," Kei Sin Kim, senior and financial adviser of EN3EN, was quoted by Infosawit.com online as saying last month.          In its cash flow analysis, EN3EN depicts that the needed initial capital amounted to US$54 million. In in the 1-10 year period the cash flow would decline to US$11 million but would already enjoy an income of about US$40 million.

IMPORTER OF TOXIC WASTE LIKELY TO BE NAMED SUSPECT

Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 13 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian authorities are now investigating the entry into the country of 113 containers of hazardous wastes imported from Britain and the Netherlands, and will likely name those behind the importation of the toxic goods.          No specific names have been mentioned with regard to the party that would likely be named A suspect but Finance Minister Agus Marto Wardoyo said the importers must account for the importation of the goods, yet presumption of innocence must also be observed.          Before naming a suspect, Indonesian officials carefully examined the contents of the containers to make sure they were hazardous and toxic wastes (B3). At least three state agencies are now involved in the investigation, namely the finance ministry, the office of the environment minister and the customs and excise office.          The office of the minister for environment has, since Feb. 10, opened 96 containers of hazardous wastes and taken 56 samples to be tested to assure they contained hazardous and toxic materials.          "We are going to open all of the containers and take the samples to be tested in an effort to obtain evidence," Sudaryono, deputy to the environment minister, said on Monday.          The samples taken from the containers were in the form of waste, soil, oil, lubricants, plastics and VCD compact discs. They are now undergoing laboratory tests to determine what toxic substances they contain.          Sudaryono said besides finding evidence, his ministry will also name suspects. After collecting enough proof, the case will then be turned over to prosecutors and the containers returned to the countries of origin.          Recently, the customs office seized 113 containers of scrap metal, each weighing 28,200 kilograms, allegedly contaminated with hazardous and toxic waste, known as B3, at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta. They were reportedly imported by PT HHS.          Those containers, of which 89 from England and 24 from the Netherlands, came in five shipments between late December and January from the Port of Felixstowe, England, and the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.          The discovery of the B3 materials began when the customs and excise officers became suspicious about the goods. The documents said the containers contained scrap metal.          Environment Minister Balthazar Kambuaya said scrap metal was not banned from entering Indonesia. "However, the material must be safe and clean. These [materials] look like garbage. Some of them are wet, some are dry and some even drip smelly liquids. These clearly violate the law,"  he said.          Because they were suspicious, customs officers cooperated with officials from the office of the minister of environment to look into the matter, and it was then discovered that the containers held B3 materials.          Indonesian law, namely Law No. 32 / 2009 on The Environment regulates the ban on importing hazardous and toxic substance while Law No. 18 / 2009 also regulates the ban on waste disposal.         According to Finance Minister Agus Marto Wardoyo, Indonesia is basically open to the importation of any goods by foreign firms as long as it is done in accordance with regulations in force in the country.          "We welcome and invite investment into Indonesia but they must abide by the law, including the law on the environment,"Agus  said.         The waste allowed for importation applies to material waste which has obtained notification from the ministry of environment. The 113 containers had the proper permits, but did not have the correct notification documents from the ministry of the environment.          Agus, Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya and customs and excise officials have taken a look at the 113 containers filled with sleek scrap mixed with a chemical substance.          The minister said that Indonesia allowed the importation of scrap steel but the 113 containers were suspected to have been imported not based on regulations because they were still mixed with chemical substance, waste and soil.          "It would be seen whether they would be re-exported or be taken to court," he said.           Wardoyo said that many countries actually knew that certain goods were B3 and were not allowed to enter Indonesia, yet their importers in Indonesia imported them.  Indonesia has signed the Basel Convention which regulates the movement of wastes among nations.        In the meantime, environmental activists urged the government to take harsh action against any companies or individuals who bring waste products to Indonesian soil.          The Indonesian Forum for the Environment's (Walhi) mining and energy campaign manager Pius Ginting was quoted by the Jakarta Post last week as saying that the government should take legal action against the import of waste, regardless of whether it was dangerous or not, because it would damage the environment.          "We must reject imported waste for any reason as it might double the country's environmental damage. It is unfair to allow waste, which mostly contains minerals, to be imported to Indonesia after the country suffers environmental damage in producing [minerals] for the sake of exports,"  he said.***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/24:20/a014) 14-02-2012 00:26: