Jakarta (Greeners) – Responding to lawsuits from plastic and recycling plastic industries, Bogor and DKI Jakarta administrations will continue to process and implement policies to reduce single-use plastic volume as stipulates by Waste Management Law.

Currently, Bogor city administration is facing a lawsuit filed by the Indonesia Olefin, Aromatic, and Plastic Industry Association, or Inaplas, for its 2018 Mayor Regulation on Plastic Bag Use Ban.

Elia Buntang, head of Bogor Environmental Agency, said that Bogor administration is not afraid of the lawsuit.

Buntang adds that public and modern retailer business are approved of the regulation.

“Though we have not received the lawsuit letter, but the rumors from Supreme Court that [we] have received the letters. However, we already anticipate the lawsuit while meeting with Ministry of Environment and Forestry, represented by Ibu Vivien, director general of waste management and toxic and hazardous waste, some time ago. We are ready to face this together because this is not just Bogor city’s responsibility,” said Buntang in Jakarta on Monday (29/04/2019).

READ ALSO: Law Experts: Regional Administration Authorized by the Law to Issue Single-Use Plastic Ban Policy 

Bogor city administration has implemented the regulation since 1 December 2018 and capable to reduce single plastic use bags up to 41 tons per months, he added.

Furthermore, he denies that the regulation harms modern retailer as they were involved in the process and the administration also set up call center to accommodate protests from public.

However, he said that he had not heard any complaints filed about the regulation.

“In addition, there is no human rights violation. Five months after the regulation took effect, there was not a single protest from public, even we found people started to carry their own shopping bags in traditional markets. I need to underline that Bogor city does not harm anyone for this regulation,” he said.

READ ALSO: ADUPI Files Lawsuit against Bali Government for its Plastic Waste Ban Policy 

Meanwhile, DKI Jakarta administration, represented by Rahmawati, head of Waste Management of Environmental Agency, said that the government will not step back to continue the process of governor regulation on plastic bag limitation.

The governor regulation will refer to the 2013 Government Regional which stipulates modern markets and traditional markets to use environmentally friendly plastic bags or recyclable made from fabric for reuse.

“Currently, the governor regulation is on the final phase and waiting for governor’s signature. The regulation will not just talk about the obligations of retailers to use environmentally friendly plastic bags, but also education to change public to green lifestyle. The plan will be supported by traditional markets and directors of PD Pasar Jaya,” said Rahmawati.

Furthermore, she said that the government is made because waste produced by DKI Jakarta keeps on increasing every year.

In 2017-18, waste in DKI Jakarta reached to 6,800 per tons per day, however, it already amounts to 7,400 tons per day.

In addition, Bantar Gebang landfill will no longer able to contain waste by 2021 as it’s already reaching 40 meters high.

Tiza Mafira, executive director of Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Movement, said that they will support regional governments to tackle and find solution for waste issues.

Mafira said that the movement assists several regions to compose the plastic bag limitations and not backing down from possible lawsuits.

“So far, they [local government] states that they are not afraid because the willingness to solve this waste issue is high. So, if there are disruptions, the questions should go to the disturbers, not the solution of this regulation being questioned. This is really difficult for the logic. They filed lawsuit because of losing money? This kind of reason needs to be questioned meanwhile we want to solve the problem,” she said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Indonesia Plastic Recycling Association, or ADUPI, files a lawsuit against Bali provincial administration on its plastic waste policy.

The lawsuit is filed because the Association is concerned about plastics supply for recycling will be reduced and provincial government is considered inconsistent in implementing the 2008 Law on Waste Management.

Made Tedja, Bali Environmental Agency Head, confirmed the lawsuit to Greeners.

“The lawsuit is true and currently being handled by our team of law bureau. To avoid misunderstanding, we cannot give any comments before there is legal clarity from our legal team,” said Tedja via short message on Thursday (25/04/2019).

Until this article is published, the Association has refused to confirm about the lawsuit.

Novrizal Tahar, director of waste management at Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that the Association should be too concerned about losing materials for plastic recycling because the government has considered the balance in its policy.

Based on the 2008 Law, waste management, in principle, is classified into waste reduction and waste management. Waste reduction comprises of limiting waste, reuse and recycle.

READ ALSO: Ministry of Environment and Forestry to Evaluate Eco-Labels for Plastic Bags 

Several regions have applied single-use plastic waste ban, including Bali, Banjarmasin and Balikpapan. These areas are no longer provide single-use plastic bags in modern retailers. Banjarmasin extends its policy to traditional markets.

Tahar said the law on waste management, philosophically, determines the highest hierarchy in waste management is to prevent or limit waste volume.

“Furthermore, the policy is stated on Clause 11, Government Regulation 81/2012 on Household Waste and Waste Similar to Household Waste Management which declares “waste limitation includes limiting waste volume. So, it’s legit that regional government set up the policy for limiting plastic waste. If friends in ADUPI files the lawsuit based on the 2008 Law, there’s a derivative regulation in the government regulation,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that the association should not be too concerned of losing plastic recycling materials because the government implements circular economy. In addition, the government will not issue single policy.

“Now, if only rely on recycling, it’s still low meanwhile our waste issue is massive. The government does not issue single policy, we also encourage circular economy, and encourage for technology. I think with all the things we have already done, there’s a balance point. For this matter, the ministry is ready to assist,” he said.

READ ALSO: Indonesia Potentially Becomes World’s Largest Plastic Waste Importer 

Tiza Mafira, executive director of Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet and founder of plastic bag policy, said that the Association lawsuit is baseless.

Mafira said that regional government only bans several single-use plastics and already researched to determine which types of plastic difficult for recycling in their own areas.

“What is actually the reason of ADUPI? About the worry on running out recycling materials, as far as I know ADUPI recycles plastic bottles. There is never any discussion to ban plastic bottles because plastic bottles are the best selling plastic in recycle and the rate is quite high, up to 60 percent. The one is being banned is single-use plastic because it is hard for recycling and low value, so no waste banks would want to receive. So, why ADUPI feels being in disadvantage, I don’t understand,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that plastic types being limited or banned by regional government are single-use, plastic straws, and styrofoam. She said that GIDKP is not backing down for assisting areas which are currently and will implement policy of plastic waste limitation.

“Regional government’s intention is to solve the issue so that they’re not afraid. That’s why we are also not afraid. The solution is clear that single-use plastic needs to be limited because it’s failed to be recycled. We will see how weak or strong the lawsuit in the Constitutional Court,” she said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih