INDONESIAN SHOPPERS TO NO LONGER GET FREE PLASTIC BAGS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 23, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia is a haven for plastic lovers as shoppers can get free plastic bags and even request for extras to take home without being charged or questioned by shop cashiers.

          Hence, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia is estimated to generate 68 million tons of garbage in 2019, including around 9.52 tons of plastic garbage, or 14 percent of the total waste.

          According to a study conducted by a research team led by Jenna Jambeck from the University of Georgia, more than half of the plastic waste that flows into the oceans comes from five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

          China is said to become the major contributor of the world's plastic waste, with 8.82 tons per year of mismanaged plastic waste, while Indonesia comes second, with 3.32 tons per year.

          However, the nation has decided to put an end to this luxury of having free plastic bags, as from February 21, customers in at least 22 cities will have to pay for the plastic bags they use to take home their purchases.

          Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya officiated the new policy simultaneously applied in 22 cities during the commemoration of National Trash-Free Day at the Hotel Indonesia Circle, in the heart of Jakarta, on Feb. 21.

          "The pre-paid plastic bag system is now being implemented in 22 cities, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Balikpapan, Makassar, and Surabaya. The system is being administered by the provincial and municipal governments," the minister revealed.
     Indonesia is a country having the world's largest number of plastic users, after China. It will take at least 500 years for the plastic to degrade.

          The government plans to reduce its plastic garbage by up to 1.9 tons in a year through this policy.

          The central government is facilitating and supporting the local administrations in reducing plastic trash by applying the pre-paid plastic bag system, she noted.

          The system will be implemented for six months and evaluated every three months. If the program is successful, the government will issue a ministerial regulation on this environmentally friendly policy.

          The ministry has suggested that a shopper should be charged minimum Rp200 per bag, but several cities will set a much higher charge to encourage shoppers to carry their own bags from home.

          The Jakarta administration, for instance, has decided to charge Rp five thousand per bag at all shopping locations, including at mini-markets and traditional markets.
     Balikpapan in East Kalimantan Province will charge Rp1.5 thousand per bag and Makassar in South Sulawesi, Rp4.5 thousand per bag.

          Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil believes that the policy would not only reduce plastic waste but also generate economic benefits worth Rp1 billion per day, or Rp360 billion per year to his city.

          Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini has urged shoppers to bring reusable bags while going shopping as one of the best possible ways to reducing the use of plastic.

          "The use of plastic is very high, while plastic trash is difficult to decompose. It takes around 100 years for plastic bags to decompose," she pointed out.

          Risma said the residents of Surabaya, including school children, have so far recycled garbage as part of the environment management efforts.

          Environmental Expert from the University of Indonesia (UI) Prof. Emil Salim has suggested that the money collected from the sale of plastic bags should be used to reduce poverty in the country.

          "Although many people say it is too late, but I think it is not too late. Let us reduce the use of plastic bags," Emil Salim, the former environmental affairs minister, stated here, Sunday.

          The collected money could be used to help the nation's poor, he pointed out.

          The usage of plastic should be reduced in order to preserve the environment and to eradicate poverty.

          He urged the government to launch a public campaign on the impacts of plastic on the environment.

          By reducing the use of plastic, the soil will become fertile, and the plants will grow well.

          "We hope that the use of plastic would be reduced to zero by 2020," he affirmed.

          Chairman of the Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani) Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo noted that environmental education must be imparted since an early age.

          "Women must care for the trash problem. We will encourage (them) up to the grass-roots level," she emphasized. Women should also promote healthy living in their families.

          She suggested that a shopper should be charged Rp five thousand per plastic bag to discourage them from using plastic.

          Musician Nugie stated that only half of the plastic trash reached landfills, while the other half ended up in seas.

          "Therefore, ladies, please bring your own shopping bags if you go to malls or markets," Nugie remarked.

          Environmental Envoy Tasya Kamila believes that shopping is more practical if shoppers carry their own bags from home rather than using plastic bags that will finally end up in trash bins.

          "Actually, it is more practical to carry our own bags, for instance, big ones. To buy dresses and food, it is sufficient to carry just one shopping bag," Tasya stated on the sidelines of Trash-Free Day here on Sunday.

          Since her high school days, Tasya carried along her own bag while shopping and had always refused plastic bags offered by cashiers.

          Tasya has encouraged the public to make the pre-paid plastic bag program, launched by the environmental affairs and forestry ministry, a success.

          "Environmental action hardly has any impact if it is carried out alone. If the community and the public are invited, it will have a huge impact. Every individual should take the initiative to care for the environment," Tasya, who is famous for singing "Anak Gembala" when she was a child, stated.

          Tasya has actively campaigned for "Trash-Free Indonesia 2020" through her Twitter and Instagram accounts.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 23-02-2016 12:43:54