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Mapping mismanaged plastic waste in Indonesia: subdistrict-level analysis through material flow from sources to the environment
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Researchers found that Indonesia produces over 9 million tons of plastic waste each year, with more than 1 million tons ending up directly in rivers, drains, and illegally dumped on land. This mismanaged plastic waste breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics that can contaminate drinking water and food sources, potentially affecting human health. The study helps identify pollution hotspots where better waste management could reduce plastic entering the environment and our bodies.
While Indonesia is a major contributor to global plastic pollution, national-level data obscures critical local hotspots where mismanagement is most severe. This study presents the comprehensive subdistrict level analysis of plastic waste flows across Indonesia to identify these hotspots and quantify their mismanagement pathways. Using a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) framework combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we analyzed data from the Indonesia National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN), sampling and other governmental sources to model the fate of plastic waste. We estimate that 9.20 ± 1.52 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic waste are generated annually. This study focuses specifically on mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) that can potentially enter the environment and leak to waterways. While open burning is the largest single pathway (5.15 ± 0.68 Mt), this analysis concentrates on the 1.16 million tonnes that potentially leak into the environment. This includes 0.64 ± 0.11 Mt disposed directly into rivers and drains and 0.52 ± 0.09 Mt disposed illegally onto land. The analysis also reveals the critical role of the informal sector, which recovers four times more plastic than formal facilities (12% vs. 3%).
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Mapping Mismanaged Plastic Waste in Indonesia: Subdistrict-level Analysis through Material Flow from Sources to the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted sub-district-level material flow analysis across Indonesia to map where plastic waste is mismanaged most severely, moving beyond national aggregates to pinpoint local hotspots where leakage into the environment is highest and targeted intervention would have the greatest impact.
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This review summarizes evidence of microplastic contamination in surface waters across Indonesia, finding widespread pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. The study underscores the urgency of improved plastic waste management in a country with one of the world's largest contributions to ocean plastic pollution.
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Indonesia's plastic pollution problem in coastal and marine environments is largely driven by improper solid waste management on land, with rivers carrying significant plastic loads to the sea. The study emphasizes that improving terrestrial waste collection and disposal infrastructure is essential for reducing Indonesia's substantial contribution to ocean plastic pollution.
Microplastic Pollution in Waters and its Impact on Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Review
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This review assessed microplastic pollution in Indonesian waters, documenting widespread contamination across rivers, coastal areas, and marine environments, and discussing the health and ecological impacts for the world's second-largest plastic waste contributor.
Review of Microplastic Pollution in Indonesian Waters
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This review documents the extent of microplastic pollution across Indonesian waters, including rivers, coastal areas, and the seafloor, and discusses its sources and environmental impacts. Indonesia is one of the world's largest plastic waste producers, making understanding the domestic microplastic problem critical for regional marine health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.