Environment

Tackling Indonesia’s Waste Challenge – Sustainably

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Indonesia is among the biggest producers of waste in Southeast Asia – and the second biggest producer of plastic waste after China. Muhammad Azka Prasetya of Green Urbanomia assesses the country’s efforts to get a handle on the problem and engage the public to achieve sustainable waste management.

Tackling Indonesia’s Waste Challenge – Sustainably

Garbage dump in Jawa Tengah: Indonesia, a country of about 275 million people, produces about 85,000 tons of waste a day (Credit: daniskrn / Shutterstock.com)

When asked about household waste management in Indonesia, the CEO of an environmental solutions company declared that waste management is an easy thing: “Everyone can tackle the waste problem. It does not need a large place to treat our waste.” This optimistic view belies the enormity of the challenge. The mounting waste problem has driven a growing popular movement and increasing activism on the issue. The numbers tell the tall order: Indonesia, a country of about 275 million people, produces about 85,000 tons of waste a day. This is expected to rise to 150,000 tons a day by 2025. Indonesia has been reported to be the second biggest producer of plastic waste in the world after China.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, 69 percent of the annual 16 million tons of waste ended up in landfill. Most waste in Indonesia is generated from food and kitchen scraps and leftovers and plastics. In 2021, kitchen waste accounted for 28.3 percent of the total. These are easily recycled or processed.

The real challenge is plastic, which contributes 15 percent of total waste generated – up to 5.4 million tons a year. Plastic packaging is common due to its flexibility and cheap cost, but the material takes much longer to degrade and causes more environmental stress for a longer time than many other substances. Plastic, too, can make it into the food chain, especially in micro form such as when small bits of it in water are ingested by fish that are subsequently caught and prepared for consumption

Sustainable waste management

The linear economy, however, still employs the “take-make-waste” approach; a product is used and discarded at the end. This results in high waste generation that might have adverse environmental impact if it is not addressed. The limited landfill capacity in Indonesia could add to the burden if the amount of waste generated is not reduced.

The government has issued a roadmap for producers to reduce waste. Through this regulation, producers have been asked to curb waste generation by using degradable materials, recycling and reuse.

Bali collection site: Proper sorting is key to sustainable waste management (Credit: Andri wahyudi / Shutterstock.com)

Bali collection site: Proper sorting is key to sustainable waste management (Credit: Andri wahyudi / Shutterstock.com)

The process of waste management could be defined as the process taken from when the waste is produced until it is dumped. Sustainable waste management is necessary to address the environmental stresses caused by mounting waste. Wastes can be recycled and reused, preventing any consumed product from simply discarded for nothing. Sustainable waste management addresses two problems at different times – the increase in waste production and the need to ensure a cleaner environment and non-polluted resources for future generations.

Zero waste and the circular economy

To reduce waste production, individuals and businesses should not just reduce the use of single-use products but they should also extend the life cycle of a product by recycling or reuse. There should be a shift to a circular economy in which every item is produced with the aim of reusing or recycling it – giving it economic value throughout its life cycle. The concept of the circular economy is a more complex approach to achieving zero waste.

It all starts with sorting

Proper waste treatment starts with sorting. During this process, wastes are separated according to material, recyclability or the specific process required to treat them. Sorting is crucial as it is important that one type of waste does not mix with other wastes, possibly complicating the treatment, especially if hazardous and toxic wastes are involved. Appropriate waste sorting procedures can result in more wastes that are recyclable and not contaminated. But separating various types of waste into different groups is a complex matter. Plastic waste, for example, does not belong to just one group but can be divided into as many as seven types such as PET (polyethylene Terephthalate) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). A proper sorting system, therefore, requires deep knowledge of waste types.

Public engagement is key

The key to addressing mounting waste must be the mobilization of the public to take on the responsibility of reducing, recycling and treating materials. Governments need to establish processes and platforms that enable people to participate in waste management and even treatment. Such engagement, however, requires more than education and the dissemination of information. It needs skills, which in Indonesia are limited. Governments at all levels will have to focus on improving waste management and treatment skills among the public if the country is to address its waste challenge effectively.

Polythene protest: Indonesia is the second biggest producer of plastic waste in the world after China (Credit: susilo hendro / Shutterstock.com)

Polythene protest: Indonesia is the second biggest producer of plastic waste in the world after China (Credit: susilo hendro / Shutterstock.com)

Innovation for sustainable waste management

For a sustainable waste management approach, innovation including the use of technology is also necessary. For example, other practices of energy conservation and environmental responsibility should be pursued in that they are linked to waste production – for example, the use of renewable fuels and people’s economic activity and consumption, including the use of water, electricity and energy.

An example of an innovation in waste management is the waste bank, a facility to where the customer brings already separated waste. The deposited materials are weighed and their value determined, thus generating income for the depositor.

Waste banks can already be found in neighborhoods across Indonesia, supported by online platforms. Startups such as Gringgo, Sampah Muda, Mall Sampah and Angkuts connect the public to waste facilities to facilitate recycling, handling and treatment of waste. Applications can integrate appropriate and cutting-edge technologies into waste management services to get the public, companies, authorities, and other stakeholders to meet waste-related objectives. A local waste management app, E-Sabutta, for example, allows members to collect waste and convert it into savings – essentially an online waste bank.

Such technology and digital-based solutions can be used to support the zero-waste-to-landfill approach, making the entire process cost effective and efficient. Other examples of the application of technology in waste management are the use of machinery and the implementation of mobile technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) can assist people in waste management activities such as sorting.

Tech for trash: Started in 2015, platform Gringgo explains its business model

Domestic waste processing machines can be installed and operated in stations across the country. They can take in organic waste such as food scraps and leaves prior for composting. The final product can be used as animal feed or fertilizer. Indonesia already has one such facility in Bekasi, West Java.

Sustainable waste management is essential

Both the public and the government must take action to tackle the waste problem through sustainable management. Indonesia, of course, is not the only country in Southeast Asia facing the challenge of mounting waste, but because of the size of its population and economy, the task is particularly difficult, given the need to deal with such problems as the proliferation of plastics and the need to deal with such substances that are not easily treated and recycled.

The government will have to monitor the implementation of its waste management regulation and policy, and take further measures to promote sustainable waste management practices and the shift to a circular economy. It should offer the public incentives to motivate them to participate in sustainable waste management initiatives. Indeed, without the involvement of citizens who are given the opportunity to increase their knowledge about waste and waste management skills, Indonesia will not be able to get a grip on its growing waste challenge.

Domestic waste processing machines can be installed and operated in stations across the country. They can take in organic waste such as food scraps and leaves prior for composting. The final product can be used as animal feed or fertilizer. Indonesia already has one such facility in Bekasi, West Java.

Opinions expressed in articles published by AsiaGlobal Online reflect only those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of AsiaGlobal Online or the Asia Global Institute

Author

Muhammad Azka Prasetya

Muhammad Azka Prasetya

GreenUrbanomia

Muhammad Azka Prasetya is the content manager of the GreenUrbanomia marketplace website, based in Indonesia. From 2017 to 2019, he was an expert analyst in the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.


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