Plastic waste polluting the ocean remained a major concern that must be addressed by all concerned parties, a minister said on Sunday.

At least 80 percent of plastic waste ended up in the ocean, carried through waterways like rivers, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said.

She cited a video posted by a tourist in Bali that went viral earlier this month that captured a sea of plastic waste at a popular tourist spot in Nusa Penida, Klunkung regency.

The video highlighted the waste problem that faces the country, which has been named the second biggest marine plastic debris polluter in the world, after China. An estimated 1.3 million tons of plastic waste is produced daily across the archipelago, creating a major threat to the ecosystems of the ocean.

To tackle the issue, the central government along with the Bali administration, and other related parties will discuss the matter with the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister.

“We are going to take the necessary steps to reduce the plastic waste in the ocean and beaches across Indonesia,” she said at Losari Beach, in Makassar, South Sulawesi during an event to commemorate National Waste Care Day on Sunday.

The government has previously announced a commitment to redoubling its efforts to address the issue, proclaiming a target of reducing marine debris by 70 percent by 2025.

The government also urged the public to start implementing waste management strategies at home and to also significantly reduce the country’s dependence on plastic in daily life. A lack of awareness of waste management methods, as well as budget issues at the regional level, had contributed to the country’s prolonged waste problem, Siti added. (rin)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Andi Hajramurni

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