Batam Administration Rejects Plastic Waste Imports
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25 June 2019 17:09 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Batam administration in the Riau Islands has been vocal upon rejecting plastic waste imports into its region, which is often used as materials for local industries, driven by concerns on environmental damages it may create.
Batam Environmental Services Agency’s Head of Environmental Governance IP announced that the agency will strictly uphold the region’s regulation on waste management in order to preserve the environment in the region.
They also requested that the government re-evaluate the permits for plastic waste imports.
“We denied requests for raw material imports,” said IP on Tuesday, June 25.
The local government discovered a container filled with imported plastic wastes that indicate a violation of import regulations. The wastes are in the form of plastic buckets, pipes, and many other used plastics.
The importer argues that the multiple containers containing raw materials are for a growing industrial market in Batam.
“We have no problem with them utilizing plastic pellets, but the main problem is the wastes,” he said.
The containers are currently undergoing lab tests at the Ministry of Environment to determine future decisions regarding its use.
ANTARA
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