Page 23 - Plastics News May 2020

UK plastic ban delayed to October Indonesia need to manage Plastics waste
effectively

he UK plastic ban has been delayed to October due he Pacific Ocean is the world's most polluted ocean,
Tto the coronavirus. The UK plastic ban, which was Ta veritable "seafill" for marine debris flowing in
to include straws, stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton from all over the globe. While the global community is
actively trying to address marine pollution through
buds, has been delayed from this month to October due
conventions and targets, local implementation is still
to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. A Department
running behind the ambitious goals. Indonesia is second
for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
in a list of countries with the most-mismanaged plastic
spokesperson said: “Given the huge challenges posed
waste in the world. The truth is, across Southeast Asia,
to businesses by coronavirus, we have confirmed we
marine waste management and reduction policies have
will delay the introduction of our ban on plastic straws,
come up short. The executive secretary of the United
stirrers and cotton buds until October 2020.“We
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
remain absolutely committed to turning the tide on the
the Pacific (UN Escap), Armida Alisjahbana, told the
widespread use of single-use plastics and the threat
Jakarta Globe that waste management – especially for
they pose to our natural environment. This ban is yet plastic waste – is still a significant challenge in the
another measure to clamp down on unnecessary plastic region. "Strengthening national capacities and
so we can better protect our precious wildlife and infrastructure for waste management should be a
leave our environment in a better state for future
generations.” A BPF spokesperson told Packaging
Gateway: “The plastics industry has been working
extremely hard to support the government by urgently
manufacturing essential products that are helping to
feed the nation and protect key workers as well as
ensuring the NHS can receive a wide range of medical
supplies. In addition to this, all businesses are facing
unprecedented challenges at this point in time. “The
decision to delay implementing the ban is Defra's but,
given the current circumstances, many will understand
its reasoning.” Whereas Environmental Audit
Committee chairman Phillip Dunne MP said, “The UK is priority in the region. It is critical for emerging
a world leader in environmental protection. While it is economies to promote sustainable consumption as
completely understood that the response to their economies develop," Armida said. Indonesia's
coronavirus should dominate government resources National Policy and Strategy on Solid Waste
currently, it is crucial that the pandemic does not Management and its National Action Plan on Marine
threaten progress being made with relatively Debris are promising signs. However, Armida said their
straightforward steps to leave the environment in a implementation needs to be more consistent. Indonesia
should employ more technology to manage waste
better state than we found it.”
effectively. The government could also partner up with
a third-party or informal waste collector. The country
also needs to have a second-life market for recycled
plastic."[Waste management] requires context-specific
regulatory, economic and social initiatives, including
technologies for waste treatment, adequate recycling
and disposal and a market for recycled plastics.
Financing new technologies can also advance
sustainable alternatives to plastic," Armida said. Other
than that, Indonesia also needs to develop a greener
fisheries sector and adopt sustainable fishing methods.

MAY 2020 23 Plastics News