He said the finding underscored the urgent need to end open dumping practices at final waste disposal sites (TPA) across the country.
"How can there not be microplastics when all the waste is just piled up? Bantargebang, for example, certainly contributes significantly to microplastic pollution," Nurofiq said in Jakarta.
He added that the discovery of microplastics was unsurprising given Indonesia’s continued reliance on open dumping sites where waste is left unprocessed and exposed to the elements.
Jakarta’s waste is sent to the Bantargebang landfill in neighboring Bekasi, where years of unprocessed waste have accumulated. Exposure to sunlight, water, and heat accelerates plastic degradation, releasing microplastic particles into the environment, he explained.
The government has begun tightening waste management oversight and transitioning gradually from open dumping to sanitary landfill systems.
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The new systems involve covering waste with clay layers to prevent leachate contamination and installing methane gas pipelines to reduce emissions and fire risks. Officials expect the reforms to curb microplastic pollution compared with leaving waste exposed.
"The President has instructed the cleanup of TPAs. Most districts and cities have started implementing this, though it remains difficult for large sites like Bantargebang," Nurofiq said.
Earlier, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) scientist Muhammad Reza Cordova reported the presence of microplastic particles in every rainwater sample collected in Jakarta since 2022.
He said the pollutants were formed through the incomplete degradation of plastic waste, which breaks down into microscopic fragments that spread through the air and water cycle.
According to Cordova, microplastics found in Jakarta’s rainfall come from multiple sources, including synthetic clothing fibers, vehicle tire dust, burning residues, and the weathering of plastic litter in open spaces.
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Translator: Prisca, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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