"This plastic waste, especially what leaks into the sea, will cause transboundary pollution. We can see that beaches in Indonesia are severely threatened by plastic waste," the ministry’s Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Derajat Ridho Sani stated during an online seminar for National Environment Day on Monday.
He pointed out that the impact of plastic waste is alarming, with the proportion rising from 11 percent in 2010 to 19.26 percent in 2023 nationwide.
According to data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), of the 34.2 million tons of waste reported from 317 districts and cities in 2024, 19.74 percent was plastic waste.
Plastic waste ranks as the second-largest type of waste after food waste, which accounts for 39.26 percent.
"Of the existing plastic waste, only seven percent is recycled, so most of it ends up polluting the environment. If we do not handle this issue seriously, the amount of plastic waste that will threaten the environment could reach 50 percent of the existing waste,” Sani explained.
Related news: Ministry records 41.68 percent drop in plastic waste leaks into ocean
Globally, plastic waste that ends up in the sea can also continue to increase if steps are not taken to prevent and reduce waste generation.
According to United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) data, an estimated 9-14 million tons of plastic waste ended up in the ocean in 2020, which could increase to 23-37 million tons in 2040 and 155-265 million tons by 2060.
To that end, preventive measures to reduce plastic waste are ongoing.
In this context, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment continues to encourage producers of single-use plastic products to take responsibility for collecting their waste and to stop importing plastic waste for recycling raw materials.
It also supports local governments that are working to limit the use of single-use plastics, including banning plastic bags in several regions of Indonesia.
Related news: Indonesia, UAE team up to combat river plastic pollution
Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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