Indonesia's Plastic Production: A Comprehensive Overview

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, producing 3.2 million tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste a year, of which 1.29 million tonnes ends up in the sea. In Jakarta alone, plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019. This waste is either uncollected or disposed of in open dumpsites or leaked from poorly managed landfills.

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, after China

Indonesia generates approximately 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually. 4.9 million tons of plastic waste is mismanaged—e.g. uncollected, disposed of in open dumpsites or leaked from improperly managed landfills. Rural areas generate the largest amounts (two-thirds) of mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) due to very limited waste collection rates. Limited collection services and access to disposal infrastructure hinder improvement in waste handling behaviours. Direct disposal in water is the main pathway of plastic waste reaching rivers, often resulting from populations not having access to waste collection services.

In Jakarta alone, plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019. The average daily waste production in Jakarta that year was 7,702 tonnes, and approximately 10 billion plastic bags were discarded into the environment annually, equating to 85,000 tonnes of plastic bags.

Based on data obtained from the Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (INAPLAS) and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia generates a staggering 64 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Of this, 3.2 million tonnes end up in the sea. The widespread use of plastic bags, coupled with a lack of awareness about the environmental harm caused by plastic waste, is likely contributing to Indonesia's current predicament.

Indonesia generates 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world after China. The country produces 3.2 million tons of unmanaged plastic waste a year, of which about 1.29 million tons ends up in the sea. This unmanaged plastic waste has also affected Indonesian rivers and the ocean.

The widespread use of plastic bags, coupled with a lack of awareness about the environmental harm caused by plastic waste, is likely contributing to Indonesia's current predicament. In Jakarta alone, plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019. The average daily waste production in Jakarta that year was 7,702 tons, and approximately 10 billion plastic bags were discarded into the environment annually.

Indonesia's plastic waste crisis is a complex issue that requires urgent attention and action from the government and the public.

4.9 million tons of plastic waste is mismanaged

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, with a population of 250 million. The country produces 3.2 million tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste a year, of which about 1.29 million tonnes ends up in the sea.

Indonesia generates approximately 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually. Of this, 4.9 million tons of plastic waste is mismanaged. This means that the plastic is either uncollected due to a lack of formal waste management, disposed of in open dumpsites, or leaked from poorly managed landfills.

Rural areas generate the largest amounts of mismanaged plastic waste (two-thirds) due to very limited waste collection rates. Limited collection services and access to disposal infrastructure hinder improvement in waste handling behaviours. Direct disposal in water is the main pathway of plastic waste reaching rivers, often resulting from populations not having access to waste collection services.

In Jakarta alone, plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019. The average daily waste production in Jakarta that year was 7,702 tonnes, and approximately 10 billion plastic bags were discarded into the environment annually, equating to 85,000 tonnes of plastic bags.

Jakarta's plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, producing 3.2 million tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste a year, of which about 1.29 million tonnes ends up in the sea. This is supported by a 2021 World Bank report, which estimated that Indonesia generates approximately 7.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 4.9 million tonnes is mismanaged.

In Jakarta, plastic waste accounted for 34% of the city's daily waste in 2019. The average daily waste production in Jakarta that year was 7,702 tonnes, and approximately 10 billion plastic bags were discarded into the environment annually, equating to 85,000 tonnes of plastic bags. This is a huge amount of plastic waste and is likely due to the prevalence of plastic products in Indonesia, as plastic is inexpensive to manufacture in the country. Everyday items like tables and chairs are commonly made from plastic, and plastic bags are widely used.

The Indonesian government has recognised the issue of plastic waste and has adopted several presidential decrees to address the problem, including the National Policy & Strategy on Management of Household Waste and Household-like Waste (JAKSTRANAS) and the Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris 2017-2025. However, Indonesia continues to struggle with plastic pollution, and it is clear that more action is needed to reduce the country's plastic waste output.

Indonesia's plastic waste is caused by a lack of awareness about the environmental harm caused by plastic waste

Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, producing 3.2 million tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste a year, of which about 1.29 million tonnes ends up in the sea. This is likely due to the prevalence of plastic products in the country, which are inexpensive to manufacture. Plastic bags are a major contributor to this waste, with approximately 10 billion plastic carry bags, equal to 85,000 tonnes, released into the local environment each year.

Indonesia's plastic waste problem is also caused by a lack of awareness about the environmental harm caused by plastic waste. This is evident in the widespread use of plastic bags and other plastic products, such as tables and chairs, which are commonly used in the country. The Indonesian government has recognised the severity of the issue and has implemented policies such as the National Policy & Strategy on Management of Household Waste and Household-like Waste (JAKSTRANAS) and the Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris 2017-2025 to address the problem.

The mismanagement of plastic waste is a significant issue in Indonesia, with an estimated 4.9 million tons of plastic waste being mismanaged annually. This includes plastic waste that is uncollected, disposed of in open dumpsites, or leaked from improperly managed landfills. Rural areas generate the largest amounts of mismanaged plastic waste due to limited waste collection rates and access to disposal infrastructure.

The direct disposal of plastic waste into water bodies, often due to a lack of access to waste collection services, is a major pathway for plastic to reach rivers and the ocean. This has resulted in plastic pollution in Indonesian rivers and the ocean, causing harm to the environment and marine life.

To address Indonesia's plastic waste problem, it is crucial to raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives to plastic products. Improving waste management systems and increasing access to waste collection services, especially in rural areas, is also essential to reduce the amount of plastic waste ending up in the environment.

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