Indonesian province pledges zero plastic waste by 2020

Waste, including plastics, washes up on a beach in Palu Bay in Central Sulawesi. PHOTO from Antara / Mohamad Hamzah via The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, Papua province declared the area would be free of plastic waste by 2020, which coincides with the province’s hosting the 20th National Games (PON XX).

“We hope everyone will support this program in their daily lives,” Papua Governor Soedarmo said at Monday’s event marking Word Environment Day.

The province is readying Jayapura municipality and the regencies of Jayapura, Biak, Jayawijaya, Mimika and Merauke for hosting PON XX.

Soedarmo said he would send letters to regional leaders to support the waste elimination program, which included public awareness campaigns on the importance of recycling plastic waste. The program also encouraged people to reduce the use of plastics.

Papua Environment Agency head Martha Mandosir said she would propose that a special unit be set up within the agency to deal with plastic waste, which were often found in gutters and the rivers of Papua.