Talking about plastic waste: picking up trash will not solve the problem, more important is to educate the people.
Indonesia is the world’s second largest source of marine plastic waste, after China with 9.8 billion plastic bags per year.
Indonesia Government’s commitment
- reduce plastic waste by 70 % within the next seven years;
- develop new industries that use biodegradable materials;
- public education;
- tax on plastic bags;
- Government will spend 1 billion to reduce plastic pollution
Hydraulic press is used to compact 5,000 bottles into a 1 cubic meter bale weighing around 300 pounds. The bales are loaded on trucks to be recycled in Java. Three trucks per day. Approximately $4 per bale.
Indonesia grows 25.2 million tons of cassava annually. Cassava is the most economical commodity available in Indonesia.
Company Avani Eco is converting cassava into plastic bags and straws. The company was founded in 2014, has 95 employees and 20 machines. Production is 40 metric tons of cassava bags per month.
“I’m Not Plastic” cassava bags are 50 percent more expensive than regular plastic bags. “I Am Not Plastic” straws are widely used at restaurants and bars in Bali.
REFS