Is Waste-to-Energy technology a permanent solution to Indonesia's garbage problem?

Is Waste-to-Energy technology a permanent solution to Indonesia's garbage
problem?

Achieving an environmentally sound, energy independent Indonesia is proving
to be more difficult than thought. Some may think the problem lies in this
country's inability to develop efficient, sophisticated technology to clean
our homes, streets, parks and rivers from stinky and unsanitary rubbish. Or
maybe in the government's lack of commitment to making use of the country's
huge resources for clean and efficient renewable energy. While this may be
correct at some levels, the main problem actually lies in the sociopolitical
dynamics of key players in this country.

Waste management has always posed an issue in the country. In 2015, Jakarta
produced 7,500 tons of waste each day and has dumped 6,700 tons at the
Bantar Gebang dumpsite in Bekasi, West Java. In February 2005, the Leuwi
Gajah dumpsite in Cimahi, West Java, experienced a landslide that buried 71
houses and killed 143 people. In Bandung, West Java, a waste-fired power
plant project has run up against many legal problems and is predicted to be
canceled. The government seems to have a lot of homework to do before making
the Indonesia Waste-Free 2020 dream a reality.

Aware of this problem, the government has picked Waste to Energy (WTE)
technology to help tackle the complex waste issue. WTE is the process of
generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat or fuel from the
treatment of waste. That would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well
as eliminate waste by utilizing it as a resource.

The government has introduced many policies from the president and
ministries down to local authorities to accelerate the application of WTE in
seven cities (Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, Surabaya, Surakarta, Makassar and
Semarang). The top executive order is Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No.
18/2016 on the acceleration of the development of waste-based power plants
or incineration. However, this regulation was annulled by the Supreme Court
a few weeks ago, following a request by various civic groups stating that
incinerators were dangerous for health and the environment. It is actually a
known fact that incinerator can cause serious damage due to their hazardous
residue and toxic fumes, if not managed properly. Despite the Supreme
Court's move, the government is staying the course.

The disputes between various stakeholders in the waste and energy sectors
stem from different perceptions on waste management. In this case, the two
parties (civic groups and the government) have strong supporting facts they
are holding onto. As much as health and environmental concerns are obvious
facts, there is also no question that major cities like Jakarta face a
complicated, acute waste problem that needs to be addressed quickly. One
question remains: If addressing the complex waste problem requires strong
collaboration between all stakeholders, then how can we tackle the
on-the-ground waste issue amid the current disputes? Is there any middle
ground where all parties can get along?

Looking at the waste management hierarchy, incineration could be categorized
as the least preferred option, while preferable options start with the
question of how people can implement 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in managing
their waste. 3R can reduce the amount of waste produced, so that demand for
incineration would diminish, giving more time for waste treatment through
less-instant but more environmentally sound technology (such as
bio-composting, sanitary landfill etc.) rather than fast but
health-threatening incinerators. It is logical to conclude that the
government's solution to accelerate WTE technology in this country is a
rather pragmatic one, because the sustainable one would require changing the
habits of each waste-producing individual, which is a very long process.

Changing the mindset of millions of people is not easy, as evidenced by the
government's poor attempts to develop a 3R mindset through Law No. 18 of
2008 on waste management. Eight years on, it appears WTE plants are still
badly needed. Even in 2017, we can still see how rivers in Jakarta and many
other cities are filled with dirt and floating plastic.

Unfortunately, waste generation is still a problem our government has to
face every single day, and its increment speed has exceeded the speed of us
changing our habits in managing waste. We can easily point fingers at anyone
to blame, but that does not change the fact that millions of tons of waste
are left untreated in the future if the government does not act fast, or in
another word, pragmatically.

Thus, speeding up WTE to tackle the waste problem in seven Indonesian cities
may be the best solution available today, as long as it can also address
health and environmental concerns. However, it is important to note that
pragmatic solutions cannot be considered permanent solutions to the complex
waste management problem. The government must be aware that speeding up the
construction of incinerators means that the work is not fast enough to
address the waste issue and create sustainable waste management solutions.
Settling for a pragmatic solution is not the best option, but in combination
with a hopeful purpose, it may just be.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2017/02/01/is-waste-to-energy-technol
ogy-a-permanent-solution-to-indonesias-garbage-problem.html

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com