INDONESIA – Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia, in collaboration with consumer goods giant Danone, has inaugurated a high-capacity plastic collection centre in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
This facility, the ninth established by Prevented Ocean Plastic, is part of an ambitious goal to launch 25 centres globally by 2025.
Situated in the province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, the centre will process 500 tonnes of recycled plastic each month, creating 90 direct jobs for the local community.
It will be crucial in protecting the Mahakam River, a vital waterway threatened by increasing plastic pollution.
Danone’s Indonesian bottled water brand, AQUA, has been instrumental in funding the construction of this centre and has committed to becoming a major buyer of the recycled plastic it produces.
This initiative aligns with Danone’s broader sustainability strategy, which focuses on reducing plastic waste and supporting circular economic practices.
In East Kalimantan, where plastic constitutes 19.5% of total waste, the centre will be pivotal in mitigating plastic waste, preventing it from polluting local rivers and ecosystems.
The facility will protect the environment and the wildlife dependent on it by enabling plastic collection and recycling.
“This collaboration will support the Indonesian government in addressing waste challenges by developing circular economic infrastructure beyond Java, maximizing contributions to the waste reduction roadmap,” said Vera Galuh Sugijanto, Vice-President General Secretary of Danone Indonesia.
She also emphasized that the project reflects Danone’s commitment to extended producer responsibility (EPR) and aligns with the company’s sustainability goals outlined in the Danone Impact Journey.
The centre is equipped with advanced technology and meets the highest environmental standards.
With Indonesia generating nearly 8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and only 10% currently being recycled, this facility is expected to significantly boost the country’s recycling efforts, according to the Indonesian Association of Waste Entrepreneurs (APSI).
The country has set ambitious targets to reduce waste and expand its collection and recycling system.
By 2025, the government aims to reduce marine plastic debris by 70%, reduce waste at source by 30% and increase the waste handling rate to 70%.
Policymakers are considering mechanisms to channel additional funding into waste management systems to support the achievement of these targets.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a prominent solution that involves industry co-funding to collect, sort, and recycle packaging waste.
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