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From Waste Colonialism to Environmental Justice: Lessons from Indonesia’s Plastic Pollution Crisis
Summary
Researchers analyzed Indonesia's plastic pollution crisis through an environmental justice lens, finding that waste imports from the Global North exacerbate coastal contamination in Java and Bali, and arguing that community-led circular economy models and transnational accountability mechanisms are needed over purely technocratic solutions.
Indonesia’s plastic pollution crisis reflects global structural inequalities termed waste colonialism, the export of waste from the Global North to developing nations. This study critiques technocratic solutions (e.g., recycling) that overlook socio-political drivers and proposes an environmental justice framework. Through mixed-methods analysis integrating policy reviews, participatory interviews, and spatial mapping, the findings revealed that waste colonialism exacerbates coastal pollution in Java and Bali, driven by imports from the Global North. Effective interventions require community-led circular economy models rooted in local cooperation (gotong royong) and transnational accountability mechanisms to hold waste-exporting nations responsible. This study bridges contamination theory with geopolitical dynamics, highlighting the necessity of policy reforms to curb exploitative waste trade and empower marginalized communities. Environmental governance must prioritize cultural and social equity along with technological fixes to address systemic inequities. These insights underscore the urgency of reimagining global waste regimes through non-justice-centered frameworks.