PREVENTED Ocean Plastic has announced the opening of its new recycling plastic aggregation centre in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.
The centre is opening in partnership with consumer goods company Danone, through its Indonesian bottled water brand AQUA, and is part of the wider efforts of the internationally recognised Prevented Ocean Plastic programme. AQUA funded the centre’s construction and will be a major customer for the recycled plastic processed there.
According to the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) in 2022, the total waste accumulation in East Kalimantan is over 791,000 tons, with plastic making up 19.5%. The new centre, which is the first of its scale in the province, will provide efficient waste management infrastructure to address growing volumes of plastic waste in the region.Â
By facilitating the collection and recycling of discarded plastic, the centre will help to prevent waste plastic reaching these waterways, where it can pollute and damage delicate ecosystems. It will also provide efficient waste management infrastructure to address growing volumes of plastic waste in the region, create reliable income opportunities with dignified working conditions and support the supply of certified and traceable premium quality recycled plastic to global markets, Prevented Ocean Plastic said.
The centre is expected to process 500 tonnes of plastic waste per month and provide 90 direct jobs to local people.
Vera Galuh Sugijanto, VP general secretary of Danone Indonesia, said, “The inauguration of the Aggregation Center in Samarinda, a collaboration between AQUA and Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia, marks one of AQUA’s real steps in realizing its sustainable commitment and creating a positive impact on the environment through the #BijakBerplastik movement. This collaboration is expected to assist the Indonesian government with waste problems by developing circular economic infrastructure outside Java. Thus, the company can maximize its contributions to the waste reduction roadmap. In addition to being a form of the company’s commitment to implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation, this collective work aligns with the company’s sustainability strategy as stated in the Danone Impact Journey.”
Raffi Schieir, director of Prevented Ocean Plastic, added, “At Prevented Ocean Plastic, we are committed to championing better choices in the plastic recycling supply chain. This partnership with Danone is a step change in the level of engagement we are getting from the industry, proving our repeatable and scalable vertical value model. We hope consumers, government, business and thought leaders can continue to support and invest in this meaningful journey toward a just transition for plastic collectors in at-risk coastal regions.”
Packaging Scotland previously spoke to Raffi Schieir about Scotland’s role in Prevented Ocean Plastic’s operations. To read the article click here.
