Indonesian Cities Now Charging Shoppers for Plastic Bags

The policy is imposed on all retailers, including supermarkets, stores and vendors at traditional markets.

Bandung is adopting a more conservative approach, charging customers the minimum Rp 200 per bag, mayor Ridwan Kamil said at the initiative’s launching ceremony in Jakarta. The world renowned architect said that by charging customers for plastic bags, the city will not only reduce waste but also generate revenue.

“Buying plastic bags can generate Rp 1 billion a day for the city government. In a year we should have Rp 360 billion from plastic bag sales. That can be earmarked to buy dump trucks, build incinerators or a recycling plant,” he said.

Bogor, in the outskirts of Jakarta, also demanded retailers and stores charge Rp 200 per plastic bag.

“The government [central and local] have agreed that the lowest price for each plastic bag is Rp 200. What matters most is to reduce the use of plastic bags,” Bogor mayor Bima Arya said.

“If we do not see a significant impact from the policy, then there might be a possibility to raise the price.”

Roy Madey, chairman of the Indonesia Retailers Association (Aprindo), said that the association would also help the government educate the public about the negative environmental impact of plastic bags through various social media platforms and posters displayed at retail stores.

During the public awareness campaign, retailers will subsidize each bag in order to maintain a price of Rp 200.

“If the policy calls for the fee to go above Rp 200 per plastic bag, we are concerned that it will decrease the number of customers shopping at modern retail stores. The government has to protect every industrial sector to allow it to grow, including the retail industry,” Roy said.

Indonesia is ranked the world’s second largest plastic waste producer, using 187.2 million tons each year according to a study published last year in the journal Science. China stands at number one, producing 262.9 million tons of plastic waste, most of which ends up in the ocean.