Jakarta, Sept. 12 -- Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Hendropriyono stated that the Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to phase out the use of mercury to achieve a mercury-free Indonesia by 2030.

According to a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Saturday, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensure environmental protection, which includes meeting targets for eliminating mercury and toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

"The use of mercury is illegal and extremely hazardous. Unfortunately, it is still widely found in medical devices and small-scale gold mining. Therefore, I urge law enforcement officials who encounter this to collaborate with professional waste managers like PT Wastec," Diaz said....