Prepare Rp1.3 Trillion, Jokowi Asks For Maximized COVID-19 Medical Waste Management

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered his staff to maximize the management of toxic and hazardous waste, particularly the waste handling COVID-19.

The Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, said that the projected fund for waste management is Rp. 1.3 trillion.

"The projected fund of Rp. 1.3 trillion, which is approximately what the President asked for, will be exercised to build incinerators and so on," said Siti in a press conference after a limited meeting broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Wednesday, July 28.

It is not yet known whether the budget will come from the Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH), the General Allocation Fund (DAU), or funds from the COVID-19 Task Force. However, according to President Jokowi's directives, the existing funds will be intensified to build medical waste management infrastructure. Moreover, based on KLHK records, the total medical waste as of 27 July has reached 18,460 tons, originating from various health facilities, emergency hospitals, isolation sites, and locations. testing and vaccination.

"The President's directive will be intensified again, that is, we build destruction devices, whether incinerator or shredder or the system will be explained later," said Siti.

"Later it will be discussed by the Coordinating Minister, KLHK, Head of BRIN, and those involved," he concluded.