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esidents of Marunda subdistrict in Cilincing district, North Jakarta, have demanded authorities to act swiftly and restore their environment after soil mounds suspected of containing hazardous and toxic waste were found in the area, raising concerns for the residents’ safety.

The mounds were found at seven spots in the residential area.

The Jakarta Environment Agency had alleged that the mounds contained hazardous and toxic waste, known as B3 waste, in the form of spent bleaching earth, a common waste material of palm oil production. The agency has taken a sample of the waste to the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s laboratory to find out the contents and where it came from.

The mounds were discovered in late December. Suspicions were raised on its flammable nature after one of the mounds, located in front of SD 02 Marunda Pagi elementary school near the low-cost Marunda apartment complex, emitted smoke and later caused a fire on Dec. 28.

Residents have also complained about the stench of the mounds.

Despite the complaints, the same waste has apparently been used by Marunda residents who were unaware of its harmful potential. Taking the soil-like waste from passing waste transporters, residents have been using it for years for several purposes, such as to cover potholes, fill their fish ponds as well as gardening.

Marunda subdistrict head Hilda Damayanti conceded that such practices had been going on for a long time.

“The soil is cheap and often free,” Hilda told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Marunda subdistrict social agency member Didi Suwandi confided that the waste soil could cost Rp 250,000 (US$18) to Rp 500,000 per carload, a figure far lower than the common price of soil and sand.

“Some have made use of residents’ lack of awareness, especially with the low price of the waste soil,” he said.

As a result, the waste soil can easily be found in many parts of the subdistrict, including in fishponds in several community units (RW), such as RW 1 and RW 2, Didi said.

He cited another example in cluster A, one of the four clusters in Marunda low-cost apartment complex where he lives, in which the waste soil was used to build a pavement on the ground floor of the cluster’s building on the initiative of residents.

Didi called on the city environment agency and the Environment and Forestry Ministry to remove the mounds and restore Marunda’s environment soon.

The head of RW 10, Nasrullah Dompas, also urged for the restoration of the area for the safety of residents.

“Now that we know the waste is dangerous, it must be cleared from the area soon. The mounds need to be taken out of here,” he said.

Hilda echoed the sentiment, saying that residents were “planting a bomb” in their own houses.

The head of the city environment agency’s supervision and regulation division, Mudarisin, said restoration would have to wait for the investigation into the case that was still underway.

The mounds have been cordoned off with black and yellow tape to prevent access, especially as children usually play at the mounds.

“Restoration depends on the result of the investigation, because the company found to be producing the waste will be in charge of clearing it,” Mudarisin said.

Such waste would have to be disposed at waste processing plants in Cileungsi district, Bogor regency, West Java or Tangerang, Banten province. Otherwise, it can be processed into fuel for the cement industry.

“Companies found to produce the waste could face criminal charges,” Mudarisin said.

Perpetrators will have to pay a maximum fine of Rp 3 billion and face up to three years in prison. (ars)