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.