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How Indonesia’s Cities Are Grappling with Plastic Waste: An Integrated Approach towards Sustainable Plastic Waste Management

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  • Yunisa Zahrah

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan)

  • Jeongsoo Yu

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan)

  • Xiaoyue Liu

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan)

Abstract

In Indonesia, plastic constitutes the second largest component of municipal solid waste; however, 58% remains uncollected. Most plastic recycling depends on informal sectors, accounting for only 10% of the total, leaving the remainder to potentially harm the environment. This paper analyzes how cities in Indonesia have tackled their plastic waste problems from the perspective of the integrated sustainable waste management framework. This study focuses on plastic waste management (PWM) in three cities: Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Magelang. Data were collected from 41 semi-structured interviews, a plastic waste composition data analysis, and site visits. The research outcomes include a comprehensive analysis of stakeholder roles, plastic waste flow, plastic waste composition data, and various challenges in PWM. This study identifies three main stakeholders in collecting plastic wastes: the Department of Environment as the main local government body, community-based waste banks, and private waste management companies. Most recyclable plastic waste is recovered through waste banks and private collection services. In 2022, the predominant types of plastic waste in Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Magelang City were soft plastics, thick plastics, and hard plastics, respectively. The challenges for the PWM stem from various aspects in political, legal, and institutional; environmental; financial and technical; and socio-cultural spheres. Positive trends towards an integrated system are observed, although full integration has not yet been achieved. The research recommends a multi-stakeholder cooperative approach involving municipal authorities, waste banks, and private collectors, responsive to local conditions and emphasizing sustainability aspects throughout waste management stages for a sustainable resource recycling in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunisa Zahrah & Jeongsoo Yu & Xiaoyue Liu, 2024. "How Indonesia’s Cities Are Grappling with Plastic Waste: An Integrated Approach towards Sustainable Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-32, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:3921-:d:1390181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Triassi & Bruna De Simone & Paolo Montuori & Immacolata Russo & Elvira De Rosa & Fabiana Di Duca & Claudio Crivaro & Vittorio Cerullo & Patrizia Pontillo & Sergi Díez, 2023. "Determination of Residual Municipal Solid Waste Composition from Rural and Urban Areas: A Step toward the Optimization of a Waste Management System for Efficient Material Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
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    1. Alexandro Barbosa & Tadeu Junior de Castro Gonçalves & Pedro Simões, 2025. "Improving Municipal Solid Waste Services: Insights into Efficiency, Productivity, and Recycling in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Zhuojiao Yu & Xiaoyue Liu & Jeongsoo Yu & Mohammad Sujauddin & Gaku Manago, 2025. "A Cluster Analysis of Cooperative Recycling Behaviors for Post-Consumer Plastic Waste in Urban Areas: A Case Study on Sendai, Kawasaki, and Kyoto City in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.

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