REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Over the past few months, Indonesia has repeatedly shown its objection toward becoming a dumping ground for foreign trash containing hazardous and toxic waste (B3 waste). The Indonesian authorities who have thoroughly been checking containers full of foreign rubbish arriving at several seaports of the country have been sending the imported waste back to the countries of origin, including the United States and France.

This time, the firm stance was shown by the country's related authorities handling eight containers comprising 210 tons of waste shipped from Brisbane's seaport in Queensland, Australia to Surabaya's Tanjung Perak Port. The authorities of Tanjung Perak Port's Customs and Excise Office found that the containers were not just loaded with paper waste but also with a variety of household waste, such as used cans, plastic bottles, used engine oil packaging, and diapers.

The imported waste paper is often used as a raw material for industries. However, as revealed by Head of Tanjung Perak Port's Customs and Excise Office, Basuki Suryanto, on Tuesday, the rubbish found in the eight containers might have contained B3 materials.

"This has been followed up with a physical examination by those from the Customs and Excise Office's law enforcement unit," he said.