Solid Waste Law

A new law on Waste Management, which only covers solid waste, has been recently passed by the House of Representatives. There are three types of wastes regulated under the law, household wastes, wastes similar to household wastes, and specific wastes. In order to reduce the amount of wastes, the law indicated that the Government could provide incentive to people doing waste reduction and dis-incentive to businesses not doing waste reduction. Under the new law, all producers are required to place a waste reduction notice and instructions on wastes handling on its packaging. Businesses are responsible to collect and process their own products' packages that cannot or is difficult to be naturally processed.The proposed law also regulates the tasks and obligations of the Government, both at the national and local levels, as well as cooperation and partnership with the private sector in managing wastes, including private sectors in waste management. Licenses for companies involving in waste management are to be issued by the Local Government.The law also suggested the conception of Waste Management Forum which can be facilitated by the local Government to provide input, consideration, and recommendation on wastes management to the local Government. Members of the forum may comprise of public figures, NGOs, private sectors, and wastes experts. The law also prohibits the importation of wastes to be dumped in the Indonesian territory. Importation of waste similar to household waste with permission from the Ministry of Trade based on recommendation from the Ministry of Environment may be granted, when the wastes will be used as raw materials. The new law also prohibits littering, open dumping wastes management, mixing dangerous and toxic wastes with rubbish, or burning waste not in accordance with waste processing methods.