"In 2022, we succeeded in reducing (marine debris by) 38 percent, and we are still on the right track, in which 16 ministries and institutions are synergizing," the ministry's Director General of Waste, Garbage, and Hazardous Toxic Material Management Rosa Vivien Ratnawati noted in an interview here Tuesday.
The Indonesian Government is targeting to reduce marine debris by up to 70 percent by 2025. Currently, around 80 percent of the marine debris in Indonesia is from land, while 30 percent of it is plastic waste.
Ratnawati stated that two major stakeholders in the upstream sector -- individuals and producers -- generate waste.
She underscored the importance of everyone having a good mindset that is actualized in their behavior by reducing waste.
She emphasized the need for all individuals to think before conducting their activities regarding whether they will generate waste. In addition, they need to separate organic and inorganic waste.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry commended 16 producers that have implemented waste reduction as regulated in Environment and Forestry Minister's Regulation Number 75 of 2019.
Producers are deemed as being one of the parties that play a significant role in reducing waste.
Currently, Indonesia has the Marine Debris Handling Secretariat and Presidential Regulation Number 83 of 2018 regarding the handling of marine debris.
The ministry stated that resolving the problem of marine debris necessitates handling with a legal and institutional framework in a comprehensive waste management process and effective implementation, including monitoring the life cycle of plastics.
The handling includes more specific steps to handle the issues of production, transportation, consumption, trade, end-of-life treatment, and additives.
Related news: Waste handling in fishery sector requires SOP: DFW
Related news: Government encourages waste management through medium of film
Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
