Concrete Government Action Urgent

Pollution from illegally recycled batteries remains a serious threat to public health, especially children. Concrete steps to manage pollution must follow the supervision of processing used batteries, began last year.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Workers burn used batteries to collect their lead in Jayabaya village, Parung Panjang, Bogor, West Java, on Friday (3/8/2018). The burning of B3 waste is carried out at night and in the middle of a farm because it is illegal. The workers are paid Rp 150 (1 US cent) for each kilogram of lead produced. They can get about half a ton of lead from each burning activity.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Lead pollution from illegally recycled batteries remains a serious threat to public health, especially children. Concrete steps to manage pollution must follow the supervision of processing used batteries that began last year.

The police began investigating last year the alleged environmental crime of lead contamination as a result of recycling used batteries. The National Resilience Council also formed a team to improve lead pollution (Kompas, 17/10/2018). However, significant results have yet to be seen.

Based on the observations of the Committee for the Phasing Out of Leaded Fuel (KPBB), restrictions on illegal battery recycling exist in a number of areas. However, the illicit practice soon emerges not far from the areas where the restriction is in place.

Concrete steps are needed to deal with the contamination.

Results are yet to be seen from the efforts to manage hazardous and toxic waste (B3) from metal smelting and battery recycling. For example, the government has repeatedly announced plans to dredge and remove an estimated 30,000 cubic meters of B3 waste in Pesarean village of Adiwerna district, Tegal, Central Java, but the plans have not been realized. Howe (kompas.id, 5/10/2019).

"Concrete steps are needed to deal with the contamination," KPBB executive director Ahmad Safrudin said Friday (1/11/2019) in Jakarta.

KPBB program coordinator Alfred Sitorus said four ministries were responsible for managing the hazards of lead contamination in areas where illegal smelters were used: the health, industry, trade and the environment and forestry ministries.

A KPBB study conducted several years ago showed that 71 illegal smelters in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) and 45 illegal smelters in Tegal were processing used batteries. Other illegal battery recycling facilities were found in Klaten, Lamongan, Pasuruan, Medan and Bandar Lampung.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Workers burn used batteries to collect their lead in Jayabaya village, Parung Panjang, Bogor, West Java, on Friday (3/8/2018).

Safrudin said that the government must impose strict B3 waste regulations on trade in used batteries in compliance with Law No. 32/2009 on Environmental Protection and Management and Government Regulation No. 101/2014 on Hazardous and Toxic Waste Management.

"The illegal collection of used batteries and illegal smelters must be stopped and [the batteries] legally processed. The government is also obligated to encourage and effectively supervise the legal collection and disposal of used batteries so that the economic cycle of used batteries is effectively and well managed," said Safrudin.

Health impact

Concrete steps from the government are urgently needed because lead pollution impacts public health, especially children. Lead contamination can damage the nervous system, which has fatal consequences, from delayed brain development in children, physical and mental disabilities, to tremors, kidney damage, brain damage and death.

The illegal collection of used batteries and illegal smelters must be stopped and [the batteries] legally processed.

Children have been found with birth defects or presenting abnormal development in several areas where illegal smelters are located, with lead pollution the suspected cause of these conditions. The affected children have presented physical disabilities, mental retardation, non-age-appropriate physical development or stunting, anemia, stroke, abdominal cramps, headaches, tremors, autism, stiffness and learning difficulties.

"In Cinangka [Bogor], we discovered 21 children suffering various illnesses. Then in Pesarean [Tegal], we also found 26 children with similar conditions. A real census could reveal higher figures," said Safrudin.

A 2012 study by the Tegal Health Office found that people in Pesarean who were exposed to B3 waste had an increased risk of health problems, such as impaired kidney function, impaired liver function, reduced fertility, fetal mental retardation and respiratory disorders.