Indonesian cement plants to burn medical waste

Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry has asked four cement plants to burn untreated medical waste. In early April the ministry requested PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa, PT Holcim Indonesia, PT Semen Padang and PT Cemindo Gemilang to burn the waste within six months.

The step follows the closure of two of the country’s six medical waste companies last year as a result of legal sanctions for overcapacity issues. The closure has left medical waste from 3069 health facilities unmanaged since August 2017. Some of the waste contains infectious material that needs special treatment. However, the move has raised concerns with environmental groups who said the incineration would release emissions containing dioxins.