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Minister asks regional administrations to deal with illegal disposal sites
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Piles of garbage are seen along the Kali Cikarang Bekasi Laut River bank in Muara Bakti village, Bekasi regency, West Java, in this file photo. Villagers say the stench reaches their residences approximately a kilometer away. (Kompas.com/Achmad Nasrudin Yahya)
E
nvironment Minister Hanif Faisal Nurofiq has urged regional administrations to address the problem of illegal final disposal sites (TPA) within their jurisdictions.
“I encourage local environmental agencies in provinces and regencies to take action against illegal waste processing sites that operate without proper permits,” Hanif said in a press release in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said that managing waste fell under the authority of local administrations, according to Law No.18/2008 on waste management.
During an inspection of an illegal TPA in Klapanunggal, Bogor regency, West Java, on Sunday, Hanif requested that the ministry’s law enforcement director general issue warnings to local administrations regarding these illegal sites. This is crucial to ensure that waste management complies with prevailing regulations.
“We ask the law enforcement director general to take immediate action, as it is the responsibility of the Bogor local government to manage both legal and illegal TPAs,” he said.
Hanif said the ministry would also investigate those responsible for managing these illegal sites and trace the sources of waste accumulating there. This investigation will lead to formal inquiries as part of law enforcement efforts.
Previously, the ministry had focused on addressing illegal landfills in Jakarta and its surroundings, particularly those engaging in open-burning practices, contributing significantly to air pollution.
Hanif also highlighted the importance of restructuring existing landfills that still engage in open dumping, as this practice placed undue pressure on the surrounding environment.
He called on local administrations operating TPA using open dumping methods to transition toward sanitary landfills or minimally controlled landfill management systems.
During a visit to Burangkeng TPA in Bekasi regency, West Java, on Sunday, he pointed out that environmental stress arises when these sites can no longer accommodate the volume of waste.
"This TPA needs immediate reorganization and closure for proper restructuring and environmental remediation," Hanif said.
