Bring Your Own Bag, Jakarta Officially Frowns Upon Plastic Bags

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Jakarta’s plastic bag ban went into effect on July 1 in an effort to curb the capital city's plastic waste problem.

The ban is in force in all of Jakarta's shopping centers including supermarkets and the public markets.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan reminds residents to bring their own eco-friendly bags when shopping.

Read also: Tourist Attractions and Malls in Jakarta Half-Empty Despite Reopening

“The Jakarta Provincial Administration has forbidden single-use plastic bags in supermarkets, public markets, and shopping centers,” said Head of Jakarta’s Environmental Agency Andono Warih in a written statement.

Jakarta’s plastic bag ban is regulated under Governor Regulation Number 142 Year 2019 on Mandatory Use of Eco-Friendly Shopping Bags at Shopping Centers, Supermarkets, and Public Markets.

Vendors who implement the plastic bag ban will be offered incentives while those who disregard it will be sanctioned.

The sanctions range from written notice, violation fee, or penalty payment.

Watchful eyes

The Jakarta Provincial Administration is keeping a close eye on the enforcement of its plastic bag ban including in traditional markets such as the city’s Pasar Jaya (Great Market).

Director of Pasar Jaya Housing Area Arief Nasrudin said vendors and visitors were made aware of the single-use plastic bag ban. The socialization measures were carried out prior to the ban’s official starting date of July 1.

Monitoring traditional markets like Pasar Jaya is crucial as it is one of the capital city’s largest contributor of waste.

Read also: More Indonesian SMEs Poised to Gain Access to Social Assistance Programs

Arief claims that Jakarta’s traditional markets contribute 600 tons of waste.

“The enforcement of Jakarta’s plastic bag ban will play a significant role in waste reduction,” said Arief.

Businesses that are affected by Jakarta’s plastic bag ban does have access to alternative solutions.

Shopping centers, supermarkets, and public markets can offer shopping bags made out of paper, cloth, polyester, or any other forms of recyclable materials.

Anies' optimism

The Jakarta Governor has emphasized that the city’s plastic bag ban is not meant to burden businesses.

Rather, the ban is enforced to reduce the amount of piled plastic waste that is difficult to recycle.

During the initial phase of the ban, businesses are given the choice to provide or sell eco-friendly shopping bags.

(Writer: Fika Nurul Ulya, Rindi Nuris Velarosdela | Editor: Yoga Sukmana, Sandro Gatra) 

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/07/01/065253626/hari-ini-larangan-penggunaan-kantong-plastik-berlaku-di-jakarta

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/07/01/18003441/anies-belanja-bawa-kantong-sendiri