BRIN Research Professor, Muhammad Reza Cordova, Principal Expert Researcher at the Oceanographic Research Centre of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that in less than a year, around 10 to 20 per cent plastic waste from the activities of the Indonesian people can reach South Africa. Plastic waste polluting the oceans can cross oceans, starting from leaving the Indian Ocean, to entering the Pacific Ocean,’ said Reza, at a discussion titled Plastic Waste Leakage into the Indonesian Sea and its Handling Strategy, Jakarta, Wednesday (11/9).
He collaborated with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment in conducting research on the movement of waste in the waters and found that waste from the Cisadane River, using 11 released drifters, 2 of which almost approached Madagascar within six months.
Although only ten per cent reached South Africa, the rest or more than 50 per cent of plastic waste headed to rivers in Indonesia, polluting the surrounding area. He explained that for example, plastic waste from Jakarta go to the north coast of Jakarta, Bekasi, then towards Tangerang, towards Sumatra, it goes back and forth. Indonesian waters are complex. It depends on where the current takes it. Most of the plastic waste in Indonesian waters flows to the Indian Ocean. Where, in the Indian Ocean there are several countries, such as the Maldives, Mauritania, etc.
The Indonesian government's target is to reduce plastic waste leakage from community activities by 70 per cent by 2025. But in fact, until this year's calculation, only 41.68 per cent had been reduced. Plastic production has increased exponentially by 20 times since it was mass-produced in 1950 until now. More than 60 per cent of plastic waste generated globally, including Indonesia, is single-use plastic waste, such as plastic sachets, plastic bags, drink bottles and straws. These waste takes hundreds of years to decompose, polluting the ocean and damaging marine life habitats.
He highlighted that waste management in Indonesia is far from optimal. Only about 50 per cent of waste is brought to the final waste management site. The amount of waste in Indonesia reaches 60 million tonnes per year. Reza cited data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), of which 11 to 38 per cent is plastic waste.
Source: BRIN (2024), ‘BRIN Reveals Indonesian Plastic Waste can Reach Africa in Less than A Year’, 12 September Available at:
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