Bappenas Calls The Recycling Industry Has Great Economic Potential

Deputy for Economic Affairs Bappenas Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) said the recycling industry has great potential to support the circular economy in Indonesia.

Deputy for Economic Affairs Bappenas Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said the recycling industry has economic potential from upstream to downstream.

Not only that, the absorption of labor in this sector is considered quite large.

"It turns out that the economic potential is extraordinary, from upstream to downstream, starting from scavengers, he will get jobs, get added value. Not to mention collectors, millers, factory workers and all kinds of things, later the export market potential will also be affected," Amalia said as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, October 3.

Amalia said, in the recycling industry, labor absorption for scavengers is projected to reach 3 million, 120.000 collectors, 100,000 factory workers, sales of recycled products 60,000 and 40,000-related industries.

In terms of investment, it is estimated that it will be able to reach IDR 5.15 trillion.

The industry also has export potential, as China closes plastic recycling plants with a capacity of 9 million tons per year.

To support the recycling industry, especially in the textile sector, said Amalia, adequate ecosystem development is needed, ranging from collectors of used clothing, offtakers or standby buyers to places of management.

Amalia added that the circular economy in the textile industry sector needs to be encouraged so that it can increase per capita income as well as job opportunities.

According to him, now the most important thing for the Government is how to provide better per capita income for the community.

"If we encourage the implementation of the circular economy in the textile industry, I believe this can increase income per capita, increase employment opportunities. This is environmentally friendly work, as well as we can increase their per capita income," said Amalia.