Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment is aiming to recycle 33,000 tons of plastic waste into renewable energy as part of efforts to reduce the country's mounting waste burden, which currently stands at nearly 140,000 tons per day.Ade Palguna Ruteka, the ministry's Deputy for Waste Management, Hazardous and Toxic Materials, said during a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday that industries are being urged to take part by converting leftover packaging into refuse-derived fuel (RDF).
"We are also encouraging industries that produce plastic to reclaim remaining packaging and use it to convert RDF into fuel for cement processing and other industries," Ruteka explained.
Indonesia currently has 16 cement factories that absorb plastic waste, though the material must be processed to a certain size before being used as fuel. Ruteka noted that plastic-to-energy initiatives have not been optimal because the practice of proper waste disposal is not yet ingrained in Indonesian society.
"We've been taught to dispose of plastic and other waste properly, but it hasn't become a culture. We must be responsible for our own waste," he said.
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He added that household waste separation — distinguishing between organic and inorganic waste — is also uncommon in Indonesian families, even though it could bring major benefits. Organic waste, for example, can be turned into compost, liquid fertilizer, or biogas, while inorganic waste can be converted into panels, fuel, and other materials.
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According to Ruteka, Indonesia's waste management rate is currently about 39.1 percent, with the remaining 60 percent unmanaged. The government is targeting 51.2 percent managed waste by the end of 2025, and 100 percent by 2029.
"There is still a lot of work to do to reduce environmental waste. We must manage it to 100 percent," he emphasized.
