“The entire neighbourhood is shrouded in smog,” Pawiroredjo said during his address in parliament. According to him, residents, particularly in the morning hours, have to move through thick clouds of smoke. He is especially concerned about the health of schoolchildren. “The entire neighbourhood is shrouded in smog, which is highly toxic,” the DNA member stressed. He pointed out that harmful substances may be released during the fire at the landfill site and spread through the smoke. Pawiroredjo urged the government to take urgent measures to address the situation.
Structural approach necessary
According to the parliamentarian, the fire problem at the landfill site is not a new phenomenon. He stated that fires at the rubbish dump recur virtually every year and that it is time for a structural solution. “Our waste processing must now be done in a completely different way, and there are already plans for this,” he said.
Pawiroredjo wants to know from Minister Stephen Tsang of Openbare Werken en Ruimtelijke Ordening what concrete steps the government will take to permanently tackle the recurring fires and the resulting smoke nuisance. According to him, the current waste-processing system is outdated and entails considerable health risks. “The way we currently handle waste processing is also no longer in keeping with the times. It poses a serious danger to public health,” Pawiroredjo said.
