Still Major Problem, Indonesia Needs Many Private Electronic Waste Management

JAKARTA - Indonesia as a developing country with a population of about 250 million people became one of the largest electronic waste producers in the world. Efforts to manage domestic electronic waste by private parties with the government still face problems.

A number of environmental conservation experts held an international meeting held in Jakarta from October 2-6, 2017 with the aim of finding solutions in electronic waste management management initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and governments in the handling of electronic waste in a number of developing countries.

This year's meeting itself has the theme of "Brown to Gold" followed by representatives from USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Filipino, Germany, Cambodia, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia as the host.

Director General of Waste Management and B3 Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih conveyed, the issue of electronic waste has always been a major problem in developing countries.

"This is because Indonesia and other developing countries do not have complete facilities to manage electronic waste," she explained.

According to her Indonesia must learn to developed countries about handling electronic waste. Developed countries are not only collecting components from electronic waste, but also managing them to be recycled into value-added metals.

International Journal of Environmental Science and Development noted in 2015 mobile phones produced in Indonesia reached 4,375 tons per year. The electronic waste is only about 3,176 tons per year. Whereas if managed properly and seriously, 1 ton of electronic waste can produce approximately 1.44 kg of gold, silver and other metals. The actual electronic waste can be managed by investors in order to get more value like the content required by the national manufacturing industry.

In connection with this meeting, a number of environmental conservation delegates paid a working visit to one of the electronic waste management companies in Indonesia, namely PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari located in Delta Cikarang, Bekasi District. This company is focused as a manager of B3 and Non B3 waste, recycle recycling and electronic waste processing.

Established since 1997 and has more than 20 years experience in waste management from various manufacturing industries in Indonesia. Having a vision on sustainable environmental conservation, as well as being a pioneer in the implementation of management of international best-quality management (Integreted Waste Management Solution).

PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari currently has a number of legality and licenses issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, pocketed the ISO 9001: 2013 standard management certificate, as well as the ISO 14001 environmental management standard from the TUV world certification body. As a commitment from the top management of PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari for the preservation of the Indonesian environment.

"As a company engaged in electronic waste management, we are actively involved in the "Bassel Convention", an international association of waste management from around the world," said President Director of PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari, Wawan Budiawan in Jakarta, Monday (9/10).

It also hosted a working visit of a number of associations of companies and trade as well as government agencies at home and abroad as an effort to collaborate on waste management management such as Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Environmental Protection Agency Taiwan (EPAT ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).