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View all search resultsCorrosion risks feared on 796 US containers of e-waste held in Batam
From a total of 914 containers being congesed at Batu Ampar Port, 98 containers have been reexported as of Tuesday and another 20 have SPPB exit documents.
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Two tug boats pull a cargo ship on Jan. 20, 2026, carrying four containers holding hazardous e-waste to the United States, at Batu Ampar Port in Batam, Riau Islands. The port previously held 914 containers holding hazardous and toxic containers that must be re-exported to its country of origin, the US. (Courtesy of Batam Customs and Excise Office/-)
E
nvironmental activists in Batam have started to express their concerns over possible corrosion caused by hazardous and toxic materials on 796 containers of e-waste imported from the United States being held at Batu Ampar Port.
The Batam Customs and Excise Office had recorded a total of 914 containers, with 98 reexported to the US as of Tuesday, while another 20 have received SPPB exit documents.
Environmental community Akar Bhumi founder Hendrik Hermawan expressed his concerns on Wednesday regarding environmental risks of the prolonged storage of e-waste.
“The electronic waste contains hazardous goods. After some time, it will be corroded and automatically the elements will contaminate the storage space,” he said.
“The corrosion is caused by water, or corrosive sea air, scraping metal because the storage location is at the port by the sea.”
Another concern is who will be responsible for reexporting those containers if the importers are closed. There is unclear information about the status of those companies.
The containers were imported by three recycling companies, PT Esun Internasional Utama, PT Logam Internasional Jaya and PT Batam Baterai Recycle Industries for their operations.
