Safe and Sustainable Incinerator Management

MARABAHAN – The protest from residents requesting that the B3 Waste UPT BLUD belonging to the Barito Kuala Regency Government be closed received a response from Biology Study Program Lecturer, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Lambung Mangkurat University, Anang Kadarsah. According to Anang, incinerator operations are closely related to waste contamination. This occurs when waste containing materials that should not be burned (such as organic and inorganic waste) is burned simultaneously. He stated that burning which causes unpleasant odors and pollution from dangerous gases and small smoke-forming particles is what is considered to be detrimental to the health of the surrounding environment. Of course, what needs more attention in this case is how the operator (Barito Kuala Regency Environmental Service) operates the incinerator.

Anang explained that, in fact, modern incinerators are equipped with emission control technology to reduce their negative impacts. However, if it is not operated or maintained properly, and/or if the waste being burned still contains hazardous materials, it is still possible to cause excessive emissions, including odors and pollution that disturb local residents. It is important to maintain and manage incinerator operations well and ensure that the waste burned complies with environmental safety standards.

This is what the Barito Kuala Regency Environmental Service needs to pay attention to. This includes re-evaluating the approval of the environmental impact analysis from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to see whether it is in accordance with the facts on the ground and involving honest and trustworthy environmental experts. No less important is absorbing the aspirations of local communities who are truly affected by pollution from incinerators. Regarding sustainable management of incinerators, it is recommended to apply a coarse-fine filter approach.

This strategy is an approach that is considered good by environmental experts in efforts to overcome environmental pollution. This approach involves two main stages, namely a coarse filter and a fine filter. Technically, the steps that can be taken are coarse filters, namely identifying problems in general. Activities that can be carried out include identifying the main sources of pollution in general, observing the dominant type of pollution and where it comes from. Then evaluate its overall impact on the environment and determine which factors are most significant and must be addressed immediately. The fine filter step is to create details and handle problems specifically. Activities that can be carried out include identifying specific chemical components or substances that cause pollution, determining certain chemicals that contribute significantly.

Then determine the best way to reduce or eliminate the pollutant and determine policy options in the form of further processing or improvement at the source. The third step is continuous integration and evaluation, namely combining coarse and fine filter solutions to create an effective integrated approach. Activities that can be carried out are biomonitoring, namely periodically evaluating the results of activities that have been carried out to ensure that the actions taken have succeeded in reducing or overcoming pollution.

The fourth step is to involve the community and stakeholders in the decision-making process. Activities that can be carried out are providing valuable insight and supporting the implementation of activities as solutions to problems and ensuring transparency of the policy steps taken and their impact on the environment. Fifth is continuous monitoring. Activities that can be carried out are installing a monitoring system using monitoring cameras to monitor real-time environmental quality and using the monitoring data to make adjustments to the coarse-fine filter strategy (if necessary).

With a coarse-fine filter approach, policy makers can more effectively identify sources of pollution from incinerators and take necessary action. This approach allows for holistic and integrated case management.