Assessing digitalization of plastic waste management in Indonesia

What is it about?

Plastic waste accumulation in the ocean is an emerging crisis, with a majority of the waste leaking from land surface area. One prominent way to manage these wastes better at the earliest stage is by using waste banks. This waste bank system operates similar to a marketplace for recyclables. Instead of giving cash, it typically rewards participants with incentives such as savings, health services, or community support. However, waste banks face issues like weak administration, unclear economic benefits, and communication gaps. This study looked at how the digitalization of waste banks in Bali, Indonesia, helped collect trash from the ocean between 2020 and 2021. The researchers found that the digital system showed a promising growth rate in a year of execution. Using technology in waste banks helped prevent over 50% of potential waste from leaking into the ocean. However, they also noted that in places with more people or closer to the shore, it was harder to achieve such high reductions. This is because it takes more time and resources to educate and involve everyone in proper waste management.

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Photo by Antoine GIRET on Unsplash

Photo by Antoine GIRET on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The digital waste bank system in Bali has helped expand the amount of waste collected from 600 kg to almost 13,500 kg in a year. This shows that an increased number of digital waste banks can help in the efficient management of waste. The results were different in each place depending on the population of the area and location. Understanding the types of waste in each village and how they manage it is crucial to prevent pollution. KEY TAKEAWAY: Digitalization of waste management gives us a lot of useful information to make better plans and policies for preventing plastic waste leakage into the ocean. This can help make waste management easier for everyone. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 14: Life Below Water • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation