Stricter regulations

Rafika Aprilianti, a researcher of the Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation group, told the Post that according to her organization's research on fisheries across many islands in Indonesia, microplastics were found in seafood products such as fish, crabs and shrimp.

"It is indeed true that river and seawater in Indonesia is dirty …since waste is still often thrown into the river or burned. Meanwhile, the amount of waste recycled is still very little, only about 9 percent," she said.

Various studies have shown Indonesia to be a major polluter of marine plastic debris. Of the 3.9 million metric tons of plastic waste generated annually, 1.29 tons end up in the ocean.

Rafika called on the government to set quality standards for the amounts of microplastics that are allowed in water bodies, as well as encourage more regions to ban the use of single-use plastic.

"Although we already have regulations banning single-use plastic, so far the implementation has only targeted supermarkets and mini-markets, while traditional markets have not been taken into account."

Aside from tightening regulations surrounding plastic use, Cornell University researchers also urged developing countries to build more robust waste recycling systems by adopting technologies from developed countries to process the discarded plastic.

Neighboring Singapore, meanwhile, has long taken measures to mitigate the impact of microplastics, including monitoring the level of microplastics in seafood sold in markets and ensuring that importers always comply with food standards and regulations.

Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry waste management director general Rosa Vivien Ratnawati said her institutions have assisted local administrations to build waste management systems as well as provide incentives and special allocation funds for reducing waste.

"We have also made a road map for industries to cut down on waste from products and packages that they produce," she said.

THE JAKARTA POST