Speaking at the inauguration of The Circular Fashion Partnership Indonesia here Thursday, Bappenas' Deputy for Economic Affairs Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti revealed that the recycling industry not only had economic potential from upstream to downstream but could also absorb a large number of workers.
"It turns out that the economic potential (of the recycling industry) is extraordinary, from upstream to downstream, starting from scavengers, they will get jobs, get added value, not to mention collectors, millers, factory workers, and all sorts. Later, the export market potential will also be affected," she stated.
Widyasanti noted that in the recycling industry, the absorption of labor for scavengers was projected to reach three million; collectors, 120 thousand; millers, 40 thousand; factory workers, 100 thousand; sales of recycled products, 60 thousand; and related industries, 40 thousand.
The industry is estimated to attract Rp5.15 trillion. It also has export potential, as China shut down its plastic recycling factory, with a capacity of nine million tons per year.
To support the recycling industry, especially in the textile sector, she underscored the need for adequate ecosystem development—starting from used clothing collectors, offtakers, or standby buyers, to management sites.
Furthermore, Amalia underscored the need to continue to encourage the circular economy in the textile industry sector so it could increase per capita income and employment.
She affirmed that providing a better per capita income for the people has currently become the government's priority.
"If we support the practice of a circular economy in the textile industry, I am sure it can increase per capita income as well as employment. This is an environmentally friendly job, and at the same time we can increase their per capita income," Amalia added.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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