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internAtionAL news

Jakarta to ban single-use plastic Binary approach bids to simplify

bags by June recycling

he Jakarta administration has issued a long awaited n-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) has launched a binary
Tgubernatorial regulation banning plastic bags from Olabelling system in a bid to simplify the recycling
traditional and modern markets starting June this year. process and reduce contamination. The not-for-profit
The regulation – Gubernatorial Regulation No. 142/2019 on company says the labels are modelled on consumer
eco-friendly bag usage – was signed by Jakarta Governor research insights and are being updated to a simple on-
Anies Baswedan.“According to the regulation’s Article package direction of ‘recycle’ or ‘don’t recycle’. “Our
30, the ban will take research shows that while 84 percent of citizens check
effect six months after on-pack labels for recyclability, it’s a split-second
the regulation was glance for a Yes/No decision. Our new “Recycle” and
enacted on Dec. 31,” “Don’t Recycle” labels will ensure more packaging gets
Jakarta Legal Bureau into the recycling stream and will improve quality at
head Yayan Yuhana the same time. That’s essential if we are to deliver on
said . The regulation targets like the Plastics Pact commitment to almost
imposes a ban on double recycling of plastic packaging by 2025. As a
single-use plastic bags key supporter of the Pact, with OPRL labelling widely
in modern department used by many participating brands and retailers to
stores, supermarkets activate recycling, we want our labels to drive a step
as well as traditional markets. Aside from the ban, the change in behaviour. Jeff Rhodes, head of environment
regulation will also serve as a legal basis for the usage & external affairs, said: “Biffa welcomes the OPRL’s
of eco-friendly bags in stores and markets. According new, simpler, ‘binary’ labelling system to replace the
to the regulation, eco-friendly bags can be made from previous more complex version. As we have repeatedly
leaf, paper, cloth, polyester and its derivatives as well advocated, simpler, binary ‘recycle/do not recycle’
as recycled materials. It also should have adequate labelling needs to be a key element of making recycling
thickness, be recyclable and designed to be used several
times before being disposed of. The administration
defined single-use plastic bags as transparent bags made
from various kinds of plastics, including polyethylene and
thermoplastics. The regulation also carries punishments
for shopping centers found violating the ban, which range
from written warning and fines to permit suspension
and termination. Despite the ban, a number of articles
in the regulation still allow shops to provide single-use
plastic to “accommodate foodstuffs that have not been
wrapped by any packaging.” Such exception, however,
will not applicable if alternate eco-friendly packaging is
already available. The plan to issue a regulation banning easier for the public, whilst also improving the quality
single-use plastic bags in the city has been in the pipeline of core materials collected in mainstream recycling
since early last year. About 60 per cent of the plastic used collections by keeping non-recyclable or difficult
is being recycled and the remaining is left unattended, to recycle materials out of them. “This should also
which is going into land fill. Plastic waste threatens encourage more packaging design for recyclability, as
not just beach aesthetics and the tourist experience. It packaging manufacturers and retailers will want as
poses a risk to public and environmental health as well. much of their packaging material as possible to be able
Discarded fishing line entangles sea turtles and sharks. to bear the new label, indicating it can be genuinely
Bits of plastic supplement brown-footed booby nests. and widely recycled through mainstream, kerbside
Microplastics sneak into the food chain. recycling collections.”

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