Ternyata Sampah Kita Gak 'Hilang' Gitu Aja 😖

Summary

Angeline Kalista, founder of Sirsak, explores the critical state of waste management in Indonesia, highlighting that the country produces 76,000 tons of waste daily, much of which ends up in landfills like Bantar Gebang. She details the environmental, health, and social consequences, including pollution, microplastics in food, and unsafe conditions for scavengers. Kalista identifies key challenges: insufficient infrastructure, inconsistent standards, limited funding, weak regulation enforcement, and low public awareness. Drawing lessons from countries like Japan, Sweden, and the Philippines, she emphasizes that effective waste management requires collaboration between government, industry, and individuals, urging everyone to adopt sustainable habits and actively participate in the 3R principles.

Takeaways

• 🗑️ Indonesia produces around 76,000 tons of waste daily, making it the fifth largest waste-producing country in the world.
• 🏞️ Most waste in Indonesia ends up in landfills, which function more like dumping grounds rather than proper processing facilities.
• 💀 Improper waste management leads to environmental pollution, including river and groundwater contamination, air pollution, and microplastics entering our food.
• 👷 Informal scavengers handle 80% of the plastic waste supply chain, often working in unsafe conditions without recognition or protection.
• 🏗️ Waste management infrastructure is insufficient; for example, Jakarta's facilities cannot handle its daily waste output of 7,500 tons.
• 📜 Lack of uniform standards across regions leads to inconsistent waste management policies and low data accuracy.
• 💰 Funding for waste management is inadequate, with most resources consumed by downstream operations, leaving little for education and technology development.
• 🧠 Public awareness and participation are low; only 31% of Indonesians regularly sort their waste and many households lack proper bins or composters.
• 🌏 International examples show effective systems: Japan enforces strict sorting rules, Sweden utilizes waste-to-energy incineration, and San Fernando in the Philippines achieves 90% recycling through community participation.
• 🤝 Effective waste management requires a combined effort: government for regulation and infrastructure, industry for responsible production, and individuals for daily sorting and recycling habits.

Q & A

What is the main issue with waste management in Indonesia as highlighted in the video?

The main issue with waste management in Indonesia is the lack of a proper and effective waste management system. Much of the waste ends up in landfills, often without being sorted or recycled. This results in environmental pollution, social inequality, and a failure to process waste sustainably.

How much microplastic does the average person consume each month, according to recent research?

Recent research suggests that the average person consumes 15 grams of microplastics every month, which is equivalent to three credit cards.

What is the role of the informal sector, such as scavengers, in Indonesia's waste management?

The informal sector plays a significant role in waste management by collecting recyclable materials. Scavengers manage around 80% of the plastic waste supply chain in Indonesia, but they face poor working conditions and lack formal recognition or protection.

Why are Indonesia's landfills considered problematic?

Indonesia's landfills, such as the Bantar Gebang landfill, are problematic because they function more as dumping grounds than actual processing sites. Waste that could be recycled or repurposed ends up mixed and damaged in the landfill, contributing to environmental pollution and inefficiency in waste processing.

What does the polluter-pays principle entail, and why is it relevant to Indonesia's waste management?

The polluter-pays principle states that those who produce waste should be responsible for managing it. This principle is relevant to Indonesia's waste management because the country needs to ensure that both individuals and industries take accountability for the waste they generate, which is currently lacking.

What are the challenges related to waste management infrastructure in Jakarta?

Jakarta has some waste management infrastructure, such as waste banks and waste-to-energy plants, but these facilities are not sufficient. Many of Jakarta's waste management projects are either not operational or not capable of handling the city's large daily waste load, leading to inefficiencies.

What are the financial challenges in improving Indonesia's waste management system?

The financial challenges include insufficient funding allocated to waste management. For example, in Jakarta, only 3.8% of the regional budget is dedicated to waste management. This funding is often used for basic transportation and infrastructure maintenance, leaving little for improvements in public education, technology development, or better waste processing.

How does waste sorting in Indonesia compare to other countries like Japan or Sweden?

Waste sorting in Indonesia is still in its early stages, with only 31% of Indonesians regularly sorting their waste. In contrast, countries like Japan and Sweden have established advanced waste sorting systems that are deeply integrated into their cultures, with clear instructions, incentives, and high recycling rates.

What has been the impact of waste management policies like Presidential Decree No. 97 of 2017?

While Presidential Decree No. 97 of 2017 set ambitious targets to reduce waste by 30% and manage 70% of waste by 2025, implementation has been slow. By 2024, waste reduction has only reached 1%, and waste management has reached 46%, far from the targets set in the decree.

What role does public education play in waste management improvements in Indonesia?

Public education is critical in improving waste management in Indonesia. There is a need for widespread education about waste sorting, recycling, and the environmental impact of waste. Currently, many people lack the knowledge or resources to sort their waste properly, which contributes to the ongoing waste management crisis.