A Sunday cleanup in Jakarta’s Lapangan Banteng park reveals a growing movement to address Indonesia’s mounting waste crisis, but also highlights the limitations of relying solely on cleanup efforts.
The Last Line of Defense
Volunteers with Trash Hero Jakarta, a network originating in Switzerland in 2013 and now operating in 15 countries, gather weekly to remove litter. At its peak, before the pandemic, Trash Hero operated nearly 80 chapters across Indonesia. In Jakarta, volunteers meet every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. at Lapangan Banteng, while in Canggu, Bali, cleanups take place on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. on Batu Bolong beach.
For Tony, a 44-year-old volunteer, the effort is about instilling a sense of shared responsibility in his children, aged 10 to 14. He hopes to teach them that public cleanliness is a common duty, as practiced in countries like Japan and Singapore.
An Upstream Problem
Despite the dedication of volunteers, chapter leader Krishna emphasizes that cleanups are merely a reactive measure. “A cleanup is essentially just moving trash from point A to point B,” he states. “It’s the last line of defense. By the time it reaches the ground, we’ve already failed.”
Indonesia generates 33.6 million tonnes of waste annually, with 40 percent improperly managed. The issue is compounded by over 260,000 tonnes of imported plastic waste, despite a 2 percent impurity limit. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) identifies the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry as a significant contributor to the problem.
Krishna recounts a past offer from a major FMCG skincare brand to collaborate on a cleanup campaign. He questioned their motives, asking why they weren’t redesigning their packaging or altering their production methods, particularly given that their products utilize plastics difficult to recycle. Sachets, in particular, are a major source of pollution, with the average Indonesian discarding approximately 4 kilograms of sachet waste each year.
Engaging with Policy
Trash Hero Jakarta extends its efforts beyond cleanup, actively engaging with policymakers. In 2023, the organization was invited by the Jakarta Legislative Council’s Commission A to contribute to discussions surrounding the city’s Waste Management Regulation. A simple change – replacing bottled water with glassware at meetings – demonstrated the impact of leading by example.
The group also reviewed Jakarta’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report for the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), raising concerns about a proposed reliance on incineration. Krishna advocated for a community-based maggot composting facility in Cilincing as a more sustainable and scalable solution.
While the ultimate impact on the final report remains unclear, the process highlighted the value of incorporating knowledge from those directly affected by the waste crisis into policy decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trash Hero Jakarta’s primary goal?
While Trash Hero Jakarta organizes cleanups, its primary goal is to address the root causes of the waste crisis by advocating for changes in production and policy.
How much waste does Indonesia produce annually?
Indonesia produces 33.6 million tonnes of waste a year, with 40 percent of it not being properly managed.
What role do FMCG companies play in the waste crisis?
According to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry is a major contributor to the waste crisis, particularly through the production of difficult-to-recycle packaging like sachets.
If we continue to ignore the systems that create waste, will we ever truly address the problem?
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