Indonesian government warns producers to stop producing non-recyclable packaging

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 4 Nov 09;

The government has warned producers to stop producing packaging that cannot be recycled due to a law that is expected to be effective as of next year.

The Office of the State Ministry for the Environment said government regulations that were needed to implement the 2008 Waste Management Law would be completed by December.

“Once the law is implemented, it is not enough that producers cease using plastic packaging and begin using eco-friendly materials,” the domestic waste management deputy assistant at the ministry, Tri Bangun Sony, said Wednesday.

He said producers should also collect non-recyclable litter to help protect the environment.

“Many producers have yet to take action to manage their garbage,” he said. “The noodle companies, for example, produce about 11 billion plastic packages annually, but no initiatives have been implemented to pick up litter.

“Littering is very harmful to the environment.”

Tri was speaking at a media briefing organized by Tetra Pak, one of the world's largest packaging suppliers, which operates in more than 150 countries including Indonesia.

The communication director of PT Tetra Pak Indonesia, Mignonne Maramis Akiyama, said the company used renewable resources such as wood fiber for certain food carton packaging.

“But no wood from Indonesian forests has been used in packaging,” she said.

Tetra Pak Indonesia, which has set up three recycling centers in East Java, Jakarta and West Java, supplied about 1.5 billion packages last year.

The Office of the State Minister for the Environment said the law needed at least 12 supporting regulations.