Indonesia’s Plastic Waste Problem: How Can We Fix It?
Indonesia is a beautiful country with thousands of islands, but plastic waste is a big problem. Every year, more and more plastic piles up in rivers, oceans, and streets. By 2020, Indonesia was producing 6.8 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and the amount keeps growing. A lot of this plastic ends up in the ocean, making Indonesia one of the biggest contributors to marine plastic pollution in the world (UNEP, 2023).
Photo credit":Massive piles of waste at Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Treatment Site (TPST) in Bekasi, West Java, captured on June 14, 2024."(CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki)
How Bad is the Plastic Waste Problem?
More than 1.29 million tonnes of plastic go into the ocean every year (UNEP, 2023).
Indonesia produces millions of tonnes of plastic, but only a small amount is recycled (Global Plastic Action, 2024).
In cities like Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya, plastic clogs rivers and drainage systems, making floods worse during the rainy season (BBC, 2024).
Places like Bali’s beaches are covered in plastic waste, affecting tourism and harming marine life (News.com.au, 2024).
More than 1.29 million tonnes of plastic go into the ocean every year (UNEP, 2023).
Indonesia produces millions of tonnes of plastic, but only a small amount is recycled (Global Plastic Action, 2024).
In cities like Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya, plastic clogs rivers and drainage systems, making floods worse during the rainy season (BBC, 2024).
Places like Bali’s beaches are covered in plastic waste, affecting tourism and harming marine life (News.com.au, 2024).
How Does Plastic Waste Affect People and Nature?
Harm to the Environment
- Rivers like Citarum River (Jakarta) are full of plastic waste, making the water dirty and dangerous. People who depend on the river for drinking water and fishing are suffering (BBC, 2024)
- Plastic waste kills marine animals. Many fish, turtles, and seabirds eat plastic, thinking it’s food. This leads to sickness and death (UNEP, 2023)
-Plastic pollution makes floods worse because trash blocks drainage systems (BBC, 2024).
Impact on People
In Jakarta and Bandung, plastic-clogged rivers worsen flooding, damaging homes and businesses.FairPlanet, Indonesia’s Plastic Crisis: A River Runs Through Jakarta
The dirty plastic in rivers and streets can cause diseases (Global Plastic Action, 2024).
Many people in coastal communities, like in Bali and Sumatra, lose their income because tourists stop coming due to plastic pollution (News.com.au, 2024).
In Jakarta and Bandung, plastic-clogged rivers worsen flooding, damaging homes and businesses.FairPlanet, Indonesia’s Plastic Crisis: A River Runs Through Jakarta
The dirty plastic in rivers and streets can cause diseases (Global Plastic Action, 2024).
Many people in coastal communities, like in Bali and Sumatra, lose their income because tourists stop coming due to plastic pollution (News.com.au, 2024).
What is the Government Doing?
Plans and Actions
Plastic Reduction Goal: Indonesia wants to reduce marine plastic by 70% by 2025. This means making better waste management systems and reducing single-use plastics (WeForum, 2024).
Banning Plastic Imports: In 2025, Indonesia stopped importing plastic waste to focus on recycling its own plastic (The Diplomat, 2025).
Plastic Reduction Goal: Indonesia wants to reduce marine plastic by 70% by 2025. This means making better waste management systems and reducing single-use plastics (WeForum, 2024).
Banning Plastic Imports: In 2025, Indonesia stopped importing plastic waste to focus on recycling its own plastic (The Diplomat, 2025).
NGOs Helping to Clean Up Indonesia
Sungai Watch
This group, founded by the Bencheghib siblings, places barriers in rivers to stop plastic from reaching the ocean. They have removed over 5 million pounds of plastic from rivers (Condé Nast Traveler, 2024).
Pandawara Group
This Indonesian group of young people works to clean up beaches, rivers, and cities. They have led many successful cleanup efforts and inspired others to join (Jakarta Post, 2024).
Photo by: Pandawara. group. https://pandawara.group/
Solutions for a Cleaner Indonesia
Better Waste Management
Improve recycling centers and create more waste collection programs (CCET, 2024).
Improve recycling centers and create more waste collection programs (CCET, 2024).
Education and Awareness
Teach people how to reduce plastic use and properly dispose of waste (UNEP, 2023).
Teach people how to reduce plastic use and properly dispose of waste (UNEP, 2023).
Encourage Eco-Friendly Products
Promote the use of biodegradable materials and reusable products (WeForum, 2024).
Promote the use of biodegradable materials and reusable products (WeForum, 2024).
Can Indonesia Solve Its Plastic Problem?
The fight against plastic pollution is not easy, but Indonesia is taking steps in the right direction. Indonesia can reduce plastic waste and protect its environment with strong government action, public support, and NGO efforts.
But more work is needed! We must all do our part by reducing plastic use, recycling, and supporting cleanup efforts.
resources
Jakarta’s rivers are clogged with plastic waste, worsening floods (FairPlanet, Indonesia’s Plastic Crisis: A River Runs Through Jakarta).
Papuan mangrove forests are in danger due to plastic pollution (AP News, 2024).
Bali’s beaches are struggling with plastic pollution (News.com.au, 2024).
Viral video shows shocking plastic waste in Indonesia (News.com.au, 2024).
Jakarta’s rivers are clogged with plastic waste, worsening floods (FairPlanet, Indonesia’s Plastic Crisis: A River Runs Through Jakarta).
Papuan mangrove forests are in danger due to plastic pollution (AP News, 2024).
Bali’s beaches are struggling with plastic pollution (News.com.au, 2024).
Viral video shows shocking plastic waste in Indonesia (News.com.au, 2024).
I didn’t release the impact that plastic waste can have on floods and how it can make them more extreme. Blocking flood drains and clogging rivers.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how you used examples to show how damaging plastics can be and how they relate to flooding. it’s so sad to see Indonesia suffer as much as it is. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI always try to think of a world without plastic or a world without wasteful people. Plastic cause literal congestion like that i wild
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Indonesia had such a large amount of plastic waste, I can't imagine what our own is. It was interesting to learn the various impacts as well.
ReplyDeleteit is an honorable goal to reduce single use plastics in every country, but it especially important when considering coastal countries that have direct runoff into the oceans. The great lakes in Michigan are a great example of how our negligence results in the wasting away of natural land, and great harm to the life living in the water. I hope Indonesia continues to support and create cleanup efforts.
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ReplyDeleteThis is such an important issue. It’s great to see organizations like Sungai Watch and the Pandawara Group stepping up to tackle the problem, but as you pointed out, more action is needed!
I had no idea that plastic pollution could lead to an increase in flooding. Every country should be pushing to use biodegradable materials and encourage recycling. We definitely need to come up with a better solution for waste management.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your post every time I see it. I think learning about Indonesia in so many ways is so interesting and it's even more powerful knowing your story. I think this was a great post and I was surprised to see just how much they are dealing with. I think you did a great job at providing information about every subject from impacts, clean up groups, and solutions. I was most surprised to hear that tourism was being affected by this. It makes sense but it had never occurred to me that that could be a possibility. Great post.
ReplyDeleteBy combining policy enforcement, infrastructure investment, and cross-sector collaboration, Indonesia can transition to a sustainable, low-plastic economy while protecting marine ecosystems and public health.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that not a lot of plastics in Indonesia ends up getting recycled, and instead creates more problems such as stated before can cause more flooding by covering flood drains. I am glad that they are starting to notice these problems and working on fixing them moving forward.
ReplyDeleteI hate to see beautiful areas covered in trash. The wildlife, flora and fuana, are being suffocated. This reminds me of when I traveled through the Dominican Republic, incredible views but so much trash. They just did not have anywhere to put it or take it so it sat in the middle of the roads. I love that you added some sollutions!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a powerful and inspiring post. My only hope would be that lawmakers and people in charge could read this blog and see the possible steps and strategies we can take to reduce and get rid of plastic waste. Especially because so much waste ends up in the environment, we have to come up with better solutions and strategies for plastic waste removal and clean- of the trash clean-ups.
ReplyDeleteThis is a well done post, Yusuf. Our parents' generation dealt with CFCs, our generation will have to deal with plastics.
ReplyDeleteI was somewhat surprised how big of a contributor Indonesia is to plastic waste, despite the large population. It is good to hear that steps are being taken to remove this plastic waste from the land. I appreciate that you added information about groups taking action in Indonesia, I enjoyed reading about their efforts towards removing waste and preserving Indonesia's nature.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that Indonesia contributed so much to plastic waste. I hope that in the future they can find a viable solution to this terrible issue and have safe drinking water for its people.
ReplyDeleteThinking about how much plastic is in the ocean is so sad and scary. I worry so much about the sea creatures that are affected by this unnecessary waste we produce and how detrimental it is that we continue to look for solutions.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard about how plastic waste was a problem, but to see just how big of a problem it is. It's eye-opening. Seeing that 1.29 trillion tons of plastic goes into the ocean each year is a scary thought to have.
ReplyDeleteI believe Indonesia's tactics to reduce the effects of plastic waste are practices that could be used globally. Considering that Indonesia has endured these impacts and is just now stopping plastic waste imports is shocking, and goes to show that we in the US are also responsible for the effects of waste mismanagement by just shipping our garbage off to less developed countries to take care of it for us. Reducing the production of single-use plastics is also a great way to slow this chain of collected waste.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, is there any particular reason why Indonesia struggles with a plastic problem so much ? I'm just curious if there is any specific motivator for that issue. I'm glad that it looks like government programs can alleviate this issue though!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the Bencheghib siblings before or the other Indonesian young person's groups that are fighting for the future. I also did not know about the Jakarta River or how heavily polluted it is, or about the Global Plastic Action of 2024! This has been a very informative post, thanks Yusuf!
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening in Indonesia with plastic is happening all over the world. The production of plastics releases enormous amounts of greenhouse gasses, and as this post indicates has terrible consequences for the environment.
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