Jakarta (Greeners) – A senior official urges local administrations to be creative in tackling waste issues, especially those with minimum budget.
Based on the 2014 Law on Regional Administration, there are 11 authorities under Environmental Agency including waste issues, toxic and hazardous substances, climate change, biodiversity, and Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Ala Bastar of Ministry of Home Affairs, said that to tackle all issues require an amount of funding of which minimum budget would require local administration to be innovative and creative especially to tackle waste issue in their regions.
“If the budget is limited, then the agency needs to be creative and innovative. [They] can cooperate and partner with any parties, including civil societies, private sectors, companies, or communities,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/8).
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On waste management, Bastar said that it was resulted from lack of knowledge from heads of agency on their authorities.
He added that ministry of home affairs was setting up a specified government regulation on each agency authorities, including on waste management, which would not confused heads of agency and increase their performances in tackling waste in their regions.
“The law had given the authority and all matters have been divided including waste management. Whether they handled it good or not, that’s becoming the region’s performance. The law should have been the guidance for all heads of regions, bupatis, mayors, and governors to review the works of heads of agencies. So, before this government regulation is issued, local administration can refer to the law,” he said.
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The law also stipulates national waste management, specifically on coastal and marine waste management must be handled by central and regional governments by involving business, education, and public.
Campaigns, information dissemination, and public education must be carried out to support public awareness in managing the waste from the source.
“So, it will need strong commitment from governments, business people and public. National government is ready to cooperate with business and public to develop common commitment in reducing plastic wastes which have been proved to polluting and damaging environment,” he added.
Reports by Danny Kosasih
21 Apr 2024 
