Medan City in Emergency of Plastic Waste | OBROLANBISNIS.com — Every day, thousands of trucks drive on the streets of Medan with piled-up plastic waste. The piles are getting higher, while the Final Disposal Site (TPA) is already full, as if signaling that Medan City is really in a plastic waste emergency.
Plastic Waste Emergency in Medan
November 2023 data from the Net Zero Waste Management Consortium places Medan in sixth position as the city with the highest accumulation of plastic waste in Indonesia.
Based on records from the Medan City Environmental Service, in 2023 the average volume of waste will reach 2,000 tons per day, and most of it contains plastic waste. Ironically,
The Sanitary Landfill TPA which was just built in 2023 can only accommodate around 800 tons per day, so the rest piles up on the side of the road, gutters, and empty land.
This situation shows that the TPA capacity has been exceeded, while the piles of waste continue to add to the city’s burden.
Waste Management Regulation Since 2015: In fact, since 2015 the Medan City Government has prepared a regulatory framework to reduce the rate of plastic waste. Medan City Regulation number 6/2015 concerning Waste Management requires every citizen and business entity to reduce the use of plastic, reuse used goods, and process waste so that it can be reused, and prohibits littering, with criminal sanctions of up to three months or a fine of IDR 10 million.
To strengthen the regulation, the Medan City Government issued Mayoral Regulations number 8/2018 and number 26/2019 to strengthen the role of sub-districts in waste management. Until 2024, the Medan City Government voiced its commitment to implementing a fine of 10 million rupiah for residents who litter in accordance with Medan City Regulation number 6/2015.
This series of regulations should be able to reduce the rate of waste production, especially plastic. In reality, there is a wide gap between regulations and practices in the field.
Plastic Waste Collection Points
The existence of various illegal waste disposal points in Medan City proves the minimal sense of responsibility of residents for the waste they produce. Medan residents seem to be letting go, while the City Government has not fully fulfilled the mandate of Regional Regulation number 6/2015 to ensure orderly and environmentally friendly waste management.
Although there have been threats of fines and the issue of waste has been made a government agenda, so far there have been no consistent real actions. The government has not effectively acted as a facilitator, inviting residents to actively manage waste. Low public awareness has resulted in empty land and roadsides in Medan being filled with various types of waste, one of which is plastic.
Becoming Part of the Solution
Is there no solution to solve the problem? “There is a solution, but everyone must be involved”. The plastic waste crisis can only be overcome through collaboration that is carried out with full responsibility between us “Medan residents” and the “Medan city government”. Some steps that can be taken include:
1. Community Empowerment at the Sub-district Level
Waste management programs (sorting, reusing, and reducing the use of plastic to bottles) are made a priority in each sub-district. Administrative and social sanctions are applied in a measured manner to residents who do not participate.
2. Routine Inspections by the City Government
The Medan City Government conducts quarterly inspections to ensure that sub-districts are implementing empowerment programs. Sub-districts that ignore the program are subject to reprimands or administrative sanctions.
3. Launching of Zero Plastic Government Activities
Every official government agenda, whether meetings or field activities, prohibits the use of single-use plastic or plastic bottles. This commitment is a real example for residents to reduce waste generation.
Without affirmation and a sense of responsibility, solutions will only be mere dreams. Plastic waste and other types of waste are our shared responsibility. It is time for Medan residents who are known to be firm and friendly to everyone, to also be friendly to the environment by being responsible for the waste they produce.
“Greetings on World Environment Day, For us from the residents of Medan City”
