Plastic Ban Policy Kicks Off in Cities
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Rabu, 2 Januari 2019 19:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of supermarkets in Bandung have started to implement the ban on plastic bags as of January 1, 2019, and replace disposable plastic bags with used cardboard boxes in cases where customers forget to bring their reusable shopping bags.
According to Tempo's observation at a supermarket in Buah Batu Bandung Street, cashiers would first ask whether a customer would need used cardboard boxes that were neatly tied. We also saw many customers chose not to tie them since they immediately put them into their vehicles after completing a transaction.
However, the policy has not been made mandatory from what Tempo saw. “Plastic bags are still used for clothing products,” said a male cashier on Monday.
Read: Bali Starts to Implement Its Plastic Ban
Bandung is not the only Indonesian region to implement this green solution since Bali and Bogor City have also issued a ban on the use of disposable plastic bags in a number of shopping locations.
Despite supporting the government’s attempt to reduce plastic waste, this move was met with slight resistance from the Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas), which urged regional governments to reconsider the ban and think of a better solution.
ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)
