The coordinating minister emphasized that the government should not be the sole party responsible for addressing environmental issues, as other parties have an equal role to play in this regard.
"The government is committed to reducing marine waste by 70 percent by 2025 in our effort to address plastic pollution issues. Cooperation and participation from all stakeholders will be essential to achieve this goal," Pandjaitan stated while opening the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle recycling facility of PT Amandina Bumi Nusantara here, Wednesday.
The minister pointed out that the government's firm commitment to addressing environmental issues was reflected through its success in collecting 35.5 percent of plastic waste floating in seas.
A small concrete step will be more meaningful than merely voicing criticism in addressing environmental issues, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the coordinating minister stated that the plastic recycling facility would open new jobs in the environmentally sustainable sector for the people and realize a circular economy.
"This is our huge task and is (our effort in) a circular economy that can generate new jobs. We must also manage people that will work in the sector, but we should not employ underage children. They must receive education, or we encourage imparting good education for them. Do not let only the rich to have a future," Pandjaitan expounded.
The Rp556.2-billion (US$35.5 million) PET recycling facility, apart from reducing the use of virgin PET -- the main material of plastic bottles used in beverage and soft drink products -- also helps in reducing carbon emissions through the reduction of the virgin PET material use.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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