Jakarta (Greeners) – Following the paid plastic program enforced by Indonesian retailers association, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Sity Nurbaya, said consumers are not supposed to be burdened by the policy.

The policy declared plastic bags as purchase item in 40,000 retailers members of Indonesian Retail Merchant Association or Aprindo, hence, consumers will be charged at minimum Rp200 (US$0,014) per bag if they choose single use plastic bag.

“Basically, we are correcting the concept of paid plastic program in 2016, because it’s not paying for the plastic and not the plastic being paid by public. If that’s the case, then public will have to buy the plastic bags,” said Minister Siti in Jakarta on Monday. “From the government’s perspective, it is a different concept, public should not be given the burden to the environment, which is plastic. So, [public] should pay the environmental burden not the plastic.”

Furthermore, she said that the ministerial decree of paid plastic bags is still being discussed and will be finalized as soon as possible. The draft has been circulating for more than two years. Nevertheless, Minister Siti said that the policy should encouraged people to bring their own shopping bags and abandon single use plastic.

READ ALSO: Indonesian Retailers Enforce Paid Plastic Program Starts in 1 March 2019 

Novrizal Tahar, director of waste management at the ministry, said that the system or concept for single use plastic bag is not to charge public, but by giving discount or cashback for people bringing their own shopping bags.

“Psychologically, Indonesians are happier to be rewarded than punished, because Rp200 can be considered as penalty for people that’s not pro-environment. We can reverse this, so if sirs or mams bring their own shopping bags, they will be receiving cashback or discounts for Rp200-Rp500 (US$0,014-US$0,035). It will attract public more compare than what Aprindo’s program,” said Tahar.

“Back and Forth” Aprindo

Tiza Mafira, executive director of Indonesian Movement for Plastic Bag Diet, said that Aprindo’s move showed that business sector, or retailers, can go with their own programs without waiting for legalization from the government. Previously, the retailers have been reluctant to implement policy to reduce plastic bags and demanded for legal umbrella, instead.

Mafira said that the ‘back and forth’ from Aprindo is because Ministry of Environment and Forestry had issued a letter in 2016 on paid single use plastic bags, which was considered as successful despite only being three months of implementation.

However, Aprindo cut off the paid plastic bags on 1 October 2016 until the government issued regulations on the policy.

READ ALSO: Indonesia To Set Up Regulation on Plastic Bag Levy 

Based on Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s monitoring and evaluation, there was 25-30 percent decrease of single use plastic bags during the first trimester. In addition, 87.2 percent of public declared their supports and 91.6 percent agreed to bring their own shopping bags.

“Back then, Aprindo refused to continue the program because they said to wait for the regulation, while, at the same time, the ministry is preparing its legalization. But, Aprindo shouldn’t stopped the program and now, they’re voluntarily implement this program. We call this ‘back and forth’ Aprindo,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that Aprindo should be able to provide data on plastic bags sold in their member retailers.

“We support any efforts focusing on reducing single use plastic bags. We hope for business sector to take active roles in finding solution to reduce plastic waste,” she said. “If they really are serious in reducing plastic waste, then [they] need to be transparent in the data because this paid plastic bag program is not just about profits, but also to decrease production and distribution of single use plastic bags.”

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Indonesian retailers association reinstates paid plastic bag program for its members starting 1 March 2019, in spite of government currently drafting the ministerial decree for the policy.

Roy Mandey, head of the association, said that Aprindo [Indonesian Retail Merchants Association] is committed to reduce single use plastic bag in all of their merchants by reinstating the program simultaneously starting in 1 March 2019.

“We are waiting the ministerial decree [on reducing single use plastic bag] from the government for far too long, so we took the initiative to tackle negative environmental impact because of plastic waste,” said Mandey on Monday (04/03/2019). “This is the real action from modern retailers to encourage public to be considerate with single use plastic bag.”

READ ALSO: Indonesia To Set Up Regulation on Plastic Bag Levy 

Furthermore, he said that the ministerial decree draft has been in discussion since 2016, with Aprindo also took part, however, the draft has not yet being finalized to pass.

Consequently, the association took the initiative to reinstate Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Letter issued in 2016 on single use plastic bag, which managed to reduce 45 percent of plastic waste, in addition, educating consumers to bring their own shopping bags.

“Based on that success, we decide to reinstate the paid plastic bag program. Because, it is taking too long waiting for the government, and the general election is near, legislation will change and there’s no guarantee that the minister will the same,” he said. “We refer to the commitment to reduce waste for 30 percent by 2025 [to reinstate the program].”

READ ALSO: Activists Urge for Paid Plastic Bag Ministerial Regulation to be Issued 

Based on the Presidential Decree issued in 2017 on waste management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry declared to reduce 30 percent or 20.9 million tons and to manage 70 percent or 49.9 million tons by 2025.

Furthermore, he said that the initiative is expected to be seen by the government and consider the association’s commitment to protect the environment.

“Hopefully, our commitment can be appreciated and respected by the government and we hope that [the government] can immediately issue the on-going ministerial decree,” he said. “Aprindo will support on government’s policy regardless of the outcome.”

He said consumers prefer to use single use plastic bags will be charged additional price Rp200 (US$0,014) per plastic. In addition, consumers are suggested to use shopping bags available in the shops.

“So, this program introduces the system of plastic bag as one of the items put in the invoice or bill. Hence, the tax or the value-added tax of plastic bag will be paid by the consumers. Previously, the retailers will provide the plastic bags for free because of subsidy. That would no longer be the case, because retailers buy them from producers.”

The program will be promoted through posters, social media and direct question from cashiers. Current plastic bag will also be contributing to value added tax revenue.

Report by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Environment and Forestry stands to believe that duty on plastic will reduce plastic waste in the country, said a senior official in Jakarta, on Wednesday (6/9).

“The principal is plastic allowed [in the market] will be those with SNI certification which existed since 2016. The plastic duty scheme will be gradually implemented and targeting plastic bags, after that bottle drink packages, and household products,” said Sudirman, director of waste management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, adding that the government had requested plastic industry to prepare degradable products.

READ ALSO: Minister Luhut : Reduce Waste With Circular Economic Model

Meanwhile, Fiscal Policy Agency Head, Suahasil Nazara, said that the government had targeted Rp 500 billion of income from plastic duty by next year. Hence, Nazara said that the discussion with lawmakers will be coming in the near future.

READ ALSO: Ministry of Environment and Forestry Issued National Ecolabels for Bioplastic

On plastic duty, he underlined Sudirman’s statement and ensured the government will focus on plastic duty as the first stage. The tax will also be implemented in mainstream industries based on its degradable difficulties.

“There will be differentiated between environmentally friendly plastic bags and not,” he said. “For that, we are still discussing it with the industry.”

Reports by Danny Kosasih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Activists urges Environment and Forestry Ministry to immediately finalize its decree on paid plastic bags regulation as the process has been delayed long time, said Tiza Mafira, executive director of Indonesia’s Plastic Bag Diet Movement.

READ ALSO: Economic Approach for a Comprehensive Waste Management

Marifa said that the paid plastic bags trials have been done twice with the first evaluation resulted to reducing 55 percent of plastic use and second stage had managed to reduce to 14 percent.

“We are still waiting and questioning on the ministerial regulation to be issued as many are waiting for this legal framework to implement paid plastic bags,” she said in Jakarta on Friday (29/7).

READ ALSO: Ministry of Environment and Forestry Issued National Ecolabels for Bioplastic

Valerina Daniel, an environment activist, said that civil societies and communities have done their own movements to support government in implementing paid plastic bags.

In addition, Daniel also encourages public to bring their own shopping bags according to their convenient.

“Because, we are then supporting environment movements and government, of course,” she said.

Djati Witjaksono Hadi, spokesman at the ministry, said that the regulation had already reached secretariat general though there were still considerations and discussions to be passed.

“It is expected that [the regulation] can be issued this year,” said Hadi.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Due to no official government regulation, Indonesian Retailers Association stopped paid plastic bag program starting on Oct 1 which had sparked controversies in the country.

Roy Mande, chief of Aprindo, said that the program was to support government’s initiative to reduce plastic bag use however the association considered the tryout had caused confusion as there was no legal basis.

“Modern retailers accepted criticism from the public which had led to potential legal suit as considered to charge without any legal basis. This is still going on though we have socialized the program through media,” said Mande. “Considering this development, we decided to make the plastic bags free again to all modern retailers starting on Oct until Ministerial regulation is issued by the government.”

READ ALSO: Plastic Waste Littering Indonesia’s Mountains and National Parks

Try outs for paid plastic bag have been implemented between Feb 21 to May 31. During these try outs, modern retailers have reported their spending for plastic bags to Ministry of Environment and Forestry through Aprindo and the results were evaluated by the government.

Based on the ministry’s monitoring and evaluation, there was 25-30 percent decline on plastic bag use for the first three months. In addition, 87.2 percent have agreed to the program and 91.6 percent had brought their own bags.

“Consequently, the government had decided to continue the program under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Letter No. SE/8/PSLB3/PS/PLB.0/5/2016 on Plastic Bag Reduce Through Paid Plastic Bag Implementation while waiting for ministerial regulation to be assessed,” he said.

READ ALSO: More Cities Support Paid Plastic Bag Program

Furthermore, he said that Aprindo still supported government’s program.

“We hope that the ministerial regulation on paid plastic bag can be issued as soon possible so that the implementation can be optimized and achieve its purpose. Aprindo also available to give any input on the ministerial regulation,” he said.

Director of Waste Management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Sudirman, said his office will need to study on the association’s decision to stop the paid plastic bag program for modern retailers.

Nevertheless, he said that the Association cannot stop the program under the basis of pros and cons that have been going on.

“I will need to study it. I don’t know the real reason. It is very tricky of them to announce it the end of the week. They haven’t even give the financial report that we asked,” he said.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Environment and Forestry gained more supports from provinces committed to implement paid plastic bag policy. Previously, 17 cities have stated their commitment on the policy. Another six cities volunteered to participate in the program which will be officially launched at National Waste Awareness Day, on February 21.

Director General of Waste, Toxic, and Hazardous Substance Management Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih said that the support came as voluntary actions from cities which are aware of the concerning amount of plastic bag use in the country. However, she added, there will be more cities participating on the policy.

“Currently, there are 22 cities with the addition of six [cities]. I predict there will be more cities. These cities will make a statement that they agree to support the commitment. Will it not be great if more cities involved in the program? Their initiatives are much needed,” she said to Greeners in Jakarta, on Thursday (21/01).

Related to regulation, Tuti said that the policy must be implemented by a regional regulation (Perda) which must be passed through its house of representatives hence it would be impossible to be effective by February 2016 in conjunction of National Waste Awareness Day celebration.

Hence, many of regional lawmakers proposed to refer to Mayor Regulation or Governor Regulation, or refer to the 2008 Ministerial Regulation on the paid plastic bag.

As for pricing and selling mechanism, Tuti said that they were still discussing with Ministry of Trade, Indonesian Retail Merchant Association (Aprindo), and other related parties. On the pricing, she added, it would still be Rp 500 as the lowest price but they have yet to decide on the highest price.

Meanwhile, Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal welcomes the government’s program and stated that socialization had already being conducted in 19 villages on plastic bag use by 2015. He added that Aceh had already implemented a mayor regulation on plastic bag use.

“We are hoping that it can start in places such as markets involving green communities with city administration to do socialization in schools and routine meetings with village leaders. We will establish special team to accelerate the program in Banda Aceh,” he said.

Furthermore, Ambon Mayor suggested to apply pricing up to Rp 5,000 and requested for plastic bag use mechanism be handled by city administration.

“We suggest for Rp 5,000 so it will be expensive which will make people to bring their own bags. We also intended for all plastic distributors, through Perda, to pay plastic distribution,” he said.

Ministry of Environment and Forestry will start its policy on paid plastic bag use in 17 cities in Indonesia, at the National Waste Awareness Day, on February 21, which will be held in Jakarta, Bandung, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, Tangerang, Solo, Semarang, Surabaya, Denpasar, Palembang, Medan, Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Makassar, Ambon and Papua.

The six cities are Kendari, Malang, Pekanbaru, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh and South Tangerang. Earlier, the Indonesian Retail Merchant Association had agreed on the plan set by the ministry.

Reports by Danny Kosasih