Never mind the mercury: Indonesia says coal ash isn’t hazardous by Basten Gokkon on 11 March 2021 The Indonesian government has taken fly ash and bottom ash from coal burning out of its list of hazardous waste. The distinction is crucial as the handling of “hazardous” waste is subject to different and far more stringent regulations than non-hazardous waste. The delisting comes in response to lobbying efforts by industry groups, which want to be allowed to sell coal ash to the construction industry. Indonesia is one of the world’s top coal producers, and the fossil fuel accounts for the majority of the country’s power generation.