Straits Times 9 Jan 08;
JAKARTA - A FIRST-EVER Bill on garbage disposal has been drafted, with the Indonesian government hoping that it will help the country prevent recurring flood problems.
The Bill, which threatens fines and jail time for those who dispose of garbage in rivers, aims to counter the absence of regulations on garbage disposal, which the government believes is behind current flood disasters in several regions.
State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said garbage-clogged rivers triggered flooding, especially in urban areas.
'It is common for people to dump garbage into rivers,' he said at a recent press conference.
'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.'
The Bill is expected to be passed this year. It deals with the reduction and disposal of garbage and covers the daily activities of the public, such as prohibiting dumping and burning of garbage in open areas. If passed, the law would also 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 Bill provides for a fine of up to 2 billion rupiah (S$300,000) or five years' jail for bringing waste into Indonesian territory.
Fines of 1.5 billion rupiah or a three-year sentence would apply to those operating recycling and other waste businesses without permits from the ministry.
JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
