Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The recent rise in plastic prices has\nimpacted other traders as well, such as chicken meat vendors and\nvegetable sellers.<\/p>\n
CNBC Indonesia\u2019s observations at Pasar Kemiri Muka in Depok today,\nFriday (17\/4\/2026), revealed that chicken and vegetable vendors are\ncomplaining about the plastic price increase that has occurred over the\npast week leading up to Eid al-Fitr 2026. The traders are in a dilemma\nbecause the higher plastic prices reduce their income and require\nadditional funds to purchase plastic.<\/p>\n
However, they cannot raise the prices of chicken or vegetables, as\nthat would lead to fewer customers.<\/p>\n
Budi, a chicken vendor at Pasar Kemiri Muka, admitted to being\nanxious about the rising plastic prices. He does not want to increase\nthe chicken price because it is already quite expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, the plastic price is really high now. Usually, I prepare at\nleast Rp10,000, but now that\u2019s not enough; the minimum is\nRp15,000-Rp20,000 to buy plastic, and if buying in bulk, it\u2019s quite\nsubstantial,\u201d said Budi.<\/p>\n
He is confused and admits he cannot raise the chicken price,\nconsidering it is still quite high at Rp50,000 per bird.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dilemma, really. If we don\u2019t raise the chicken price, buying\nplastic eats into our profits more, but if we do raise it, customers\nwill flee because it\u2019s already expensive\u2014Rp50,000 per bird, and for\ncut-up chicken, Rp40,000 per kg,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Even when customers ask for extra plastic, he still provides it\ndespite being squeezed by the high prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if a customer asks for extra plastic, how can we refuse? They\nmight get angry. But customers are starting to realise that plastic is\nexpensive, so they\u2019re not asking for extra anymore,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Yanti, a vegetable vendor, also complained about the\nincreasingly expensive plastic. Now, she can only afford thinner quality\nplastic than before because it is still affordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, the impact of the plastic price rise is bad; we\u2019re getting more\nstressed. If we want the usual plastic, it\u2019s expensive; the cheaper one\nis thinner,\u201d said Yanti.<\/p>\n
She even seems dizzy because she cannot refuse customers who ask for\nextra plastic to wrap vegetables.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s stressful, a real dilemma. If we charge extra, customers\ncomplain; if we don\u2019t give plastic, they complain too. How can we refuse\nwhen they ask? So, we do it as usual, but the difference is we give\nthinner plastic,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
When customers buy her vegetables, like lime, she usually gives them\ntwo plastic bags: one to wrap the limes and a carrier bag. However, some\ncustomers no longer want the extra carrier bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut some of our customers don\u2019t want the extra plastic. Maybe\nthey\u2019re aware that plastic is expensive and feel sorry for the vendors,\nso they don\u2019t ask for more,\u201d she clarified.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chicken-and-vegetable-vendors-left-dizzy-by-surging-plastic-prices-1776412293", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }