Bangka Environmental Agency Partners with Private Sector to Provide Plastic Shredding Machines

The Environmental Agency (DLH) of Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, is partnering with the private sector to provide plastic shredding machines in an effort to reduce waste volumes at the final disposal site (TPA). “We are collaborating with private parties to provide plastic waste shredding machines with the aim of reducing the volume of waste at the TPA, while the shredded plastic can be recycled,” said Head of the Bangka Regency Environmental Agency Boy Yandra in Sungailiat on Tuesday. He stated that plastic is non-organic waste that is difficult to decompose, yet it can be useful and provide added economic value for the community. “The plastic shredding machine will be placed in an area easily accessible for the community to send plastic there,” said Boy Yandra. Before the availability of the shredding machine, he said, residents could sell plastic such as used beverage bottles to community-managed waste banks or directly to the waste bank at the Bangka DLH office. According to him, the role of the private sector and the community is very significant in assisting the local government with waste handling, which is currently a serious government concern. “Comprehensive waste management covers ecological, health, and economic aspects,” said Boy Yandra, who also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Environmental Health Experts (HAKLI) for Bangka Belitung Province. He said that unmanaged waste, especially plastic waste, poses a serious threat to the community environment.