Perhaps this is the most interesting irony of rising plastic prices.\nAs plastic becomes more expensive, society is beginning to realise that\ntoo much value has been discarded into rubbish bins.<\/p>\n
Surabaya (ANTARA) - Mornings at a temporary waste collection point\n(TPS) in Surabaya are no longer the same. Piles of mineral water\nbottles, plastic cups, and plastic bags are no longer viewed solely as\nrubbish. In the corners of these collection points, plastic has become a\nhighly sought-after item. Some wait for carts to arrive, while others\nsift through sacks specifically searching for high-value clear bottles.\nWaste that was once avoided has suddenly transformed into a\ncommodity.<\/p>\n
The rise in market prices for plastic over recent months has\npresented both an irony and an opportunity. On one hand, the high cost\nof plastic materials burdens businesses and MSMEs due to increased\npackaging expenses. On the other hand, this situation is opening new\neconomic avenues for city residents through waste sorting at the\nhousehold level.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon is clearly visible in Surabaya. The Surabaya City\nGovernment has begun encouraging residents to build waste bank\necosystems based on local neighbourhood units (RT and RW). This\ninitiative is not merely about urban cleanliness, but is part of an\neffort to change how society perceives waste.<\/p>\n
For years, waste in many Indonesian cities has been positioned as an\nend-of-the-line problem; once discarded, the matter is considered\nsettled. However, a large portion of household waste still possesses\neconomic value. As plastic prices rise, this reality is becoming\nincreasingly apparent.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry shows that\nIndonesia produces tens of millions of tonnes of waste annually,\napproximately one-fifth of which is plastic. The issue lies not only in\nthe volume but in the low rate of sorting at the source. Consequently,\nwaste becomes mixed and loses its economic worth. In Surabaya, the rise\nin plastic prices is revealing something that has long been hidden:\nthere is a significant economic chain behind the used bottles and\nplastic bags discarded every day.<\/p>\n
Profit amidst crisis<\/p>\n
Global plastic price increases are driven by various factors,\nincluding rising global energy prices, disrupted raw material supplies,\nand pressures on the international recycling industry. The impact is\nfelt at the local level. MSMEs are beginning to complain about packaging\ncosts rising by up to tens of per cent. Food and beverage products that\npreviously used cheap plastic are now facing higher production costs. If\nnot anticipated, this condition could lead to an increase in the price\nof consumer goods.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-city-that-harvests-the-future-1780929474", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }