Plastic waste, deal with it or face the risk
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\nBayu Dwi
\nContributor
\nJakarta
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Plastic has become integrated with people's daily lives. It
\ncan range in form from shopping bags through to automotive
\ncomponents. And what's more, it's cheaper.<\/p>\n
However, since plastic is one of the most destructive
\npollutants, it has been gradually replaced with other materials
\nsuch as wood, glass, paper and iron.<\/p>\n
Still, demand for plastic is still high. Every year, according
\nto State Minister of Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, local
\ndemand for plastic reaches 1.5 million tons, or about 7 kg per
\ncapita. Some 800 factories are responsible for producing plastic
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
The high demand for plastic, however, is not compatible with
\nan ability to manage plastic waste.<\/p>\n
According to research conducted in 1994 by the Agency for the
\nAssessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), out of 20,000
\ntons of garbage collected every day in Jakarta, some 7.5 percent
\nis plastic waste. It means that approximately 1,500 tons of
\nplastic waste should be managed on a daily basis. Across the
\ncountry, the figure was recorded at 1.6 million tons per year, or
\nsome 4,400 tons of plastic waste a day.<\/p>\n
If a solution for the management of plastic waste is not
\nimplemented immediately, there will be mountains of it
\neverywhere. Furthermore, as plastic is not biodegradable, the
\nenvironment will be its first victim.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is not alone in facing problems in dealing with
\nplastic waste. Other countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Nepal
\nare also in the same boat. The method of dumping garbage at the
\nfinal dumping site -- including all kinds of waste -- is still
\npopular in these countries.<\/p>\n
\"An integrated garbage management system is needed for all
\nkinds of garbage, not only plastic,\" said Lies A. Wisojodharmo of
\nthe BPPT's Polymer group, the Center for Assessment and
\nApplication of Material Technology.<\/p>\n
The integrated system, she said, should combine several
\naspects such as recycling, composting, incinerating and sanitary
\nlandfill. This approach supports the 4-R program, namely Reduce,
\nReuse, Recycle and Replace -- now an international consensus.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, garbage is sorted right at its source. For example,
\nhousehold garbage should be separated into organic and inorganic
\ncategories at each house,\" she said.<\/p>\n
However, she found that some people were still reluctant to
\nsort their garbage.<\/p>\n
\"Before this system is adopted, efforts must first be made to
\nraise the public's awareness of the need to sort garbage,\" Lies
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Active participation of four parties -- the government, the
\npublic as garbage producers, recycling entrepreneurs and
\nscavengers -- is crucial for the success of waste management.<\/p>\n
Some plastic recycling industries have started recycling
\nplastic waste they receive from scavengers.<\/p>\n
According to the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association
\n(AIDUPI), the plastic waste collected from a final dumping site
\n(TPA), like the one in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, is categorized as
\nfilthy and must be cleaned several times. On the other hand,
\nplastic waste generated from factories, such as rejects, is
\nclean.<\/p>\n
When the plastic waste is clean, it will be cut up into
\npellets. Every 10 tons of plastic waste will generate 2.8 tons of
\nplastic pellets.<\/p>\n
In order to create new products, the pellets will later be
\nmixed with some new plastic materials. The percentage of the
\nadditional materials depends on the raw materials. Plastic
\ncollected by scavengers, for instance, will need between 60 to 80
\npercent additional new plastic materials, while plastic from
\nfactories only requires about 50 percent of new plastic
\nmaterials.<\/p>\n
The recycling capacity of factories varies. A small-scale
\nfactory can recycle about 3 to 4 tons of plastic waste per day,
\nwhile large-scale factories can do the same with some 5-10 tons
\nof plastic waste a day.<\/p>\n
AIDUPI can manage about 495 tons per day.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, pellets like PE (Polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene)
\nand PET (Polyethylene Terephtalate) are sold directly to plastic
\nmanufacturers.<\/p>\n
Black PE pellets are sold at Rp 4,600 per kilogram and white
\npellets sell for Rp 6,000 per kilogram. The price of PP pellets
\nstands at Rp 6,500 each kilogram. The PET pellets can even be
\nexported or sold to factories producing dolls' hair and helmets.<\/p>\n
However, some people believe that the recycling sector is not
\nyet strong enough to ensure proper plastic waste management.<\/p>\n
Lies said that out of the 4,400 tons of plastic garbage
\nproduced on a daily basis across the country, only 11 percent can
\nbe recycled, while the remainder is left scattered, contaminating
\nrivers and the land.<\/p>\n
A breakthrough in plastic manufacturing is needed. Current
\ntechnology should enable us to produce environmentally friendly,
\ndegradable plastics (EDPs). In this way, plastic waste can be
\ndestroyed by microbes or destroy itself due to natural phenomena,
\nsuch as temperature and weather.<\/p>\n
The Polymer Technology Center of Puspitek Serpong, for
\ninstance, has been successful in its research to produce a
\npolymer that microbes consume, such as the grafted co-polymer of
\nstarch-poly methyl acrylate (S-g-PMA).<\/p>\n
This grafted co-polymer is generated from the mixture of
\nstarch (tapioca) and monomer methyl acrylate. The inclusion of
\nseveral other additives produces plastic. When this plastic gets
\nburied in the earth, microbes decompose it.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's factories, however, are ready to use
\nenvironmentally friendly plastic. The problem is, it is only
\navailable in small quantities and its price can be four to ten
\ntimes higher than petrochemical-based plastics.<\/p>\n
\"Industries related to the use of plastic need to be warned
\n(about the danger plastic poses for the environment). At least,
\nthey should pay a fee for treating their plastic waste. Look,
\nplastic packages for food or drinks are simply thrown away. The
\nproducers should be responsible for plastic waste. Funds raised
\nfrom them could be used to treat the waste or be allocated for
\nresearch purposes,\" Lies said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plastic-waste-deal-with-it-or-face-the-risk-1447893297",
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