Government Pushes Ban on Single-Use Plastics to Reduce Pollution and Microplastic Risks
- Jun 8
- 1 min read
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, through Circular Letter No. 02 of 2026, has instructed regional governments to immediately draft regulations limiting and banning the use of single-use plastics, including plastic bags, plastic straws, and styroafoam food containers. The policy aims to reduce waste generation and prevent environmental pollution that can damage ecosystems and threaten public health. The ban targets shopping centers, modern retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and cafes, while requiring businesses to provide environmentally friendly alternatives such as reusable bags, cardboard packaging, or organic materials. Regional governments are also expected to set an example by prohibiting the use of single-use plastics in official events and government office cafetaria.
In addition, regional governments are instructed to impose gradual administrative sanctions on businesses that violate the rules, starting with warnings and followed by further penalties according to local authority. The policy is also driven by growing concerns over the health impacts of microplastics. A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology (2024) found that people in Indonesia consume around 15 grams of microplastics per month. Recent research has also detected microplastics in the amniotic fluid of the mothers giving birth, with polyethylene commonly found in plastic bags and single-use packaging, being the most frequently identified type. These findings highlight the urgency of reducing single-use plastics as part of efforts to protect both public health and the environment.
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