The Indonesian government is strengthening its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy by shifting it from a voluntary initiative to a mandatory obligation for manufacturers that utilize plastic packaging. Indonesia’s Minister of Environment emphasized that manufacturers must assume greater responsibility for the waste generated by their products, particularly single-use plastics, which pose significant environmental harm and are notoriously difficult to decompose.
As part of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), the government has made recycling mandatory to help meet its waste management targets by 2029. This policy follows Indonesia’s earlier move to ban plastic scrap imports, which took effect on January 1, 2025.
The regulation is expected to have a significant impact on multiple industries, including food and beverage, retail, manufacturing, cosmetics, and services. Businesses are required to design detailed collection and recycling strategies and submit regular reports. At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is advancing waste-to-energy initiatives in regions that produce over 1,000 tonnes of waste per day. However, this approach is regarded as a last resort due to its high costs and technical complexities.
Experts noted that the mandatory EPR scheme is expected to level the playing field by ensuring all businesses share equal responsibility. Yet, Indonesia continues to face significant challenges due to the lack of synchronization in its collection and recycling systems.
(Source: Vietnam Plus)
