Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Expands Ban On The Use Of Plastic Bags In Markets

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

BOGOR - The Bogor City Government, West Java, has expanded the ban on the use of plastic bags to traditional markets, starting with Pasar Kebon Kembang or known as Pasar Anyar.

The prohibition policy was launched by the Mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya, who brought environmentally friendly bags to Block F of the market for traders and buyers to see, as a symbol of the enactment of the expansion of the policy against the use of plastic bags in modern retail stores and shopping centers in Perwali No. Use of Plastic Bags.

"Today, the Bogor City No Plastic Bag (Batak) policy is officially extended to traditional markets or people's markets, not only modern stores or retail," said Bima Arya, quoted by Antara, Monday, December 13.

As an initial stage, the Bogor City Government chose the Kebon Kembang Market, especially the prioritized dry market and then the wet market gradually.

The implementation of a similar policy in the wet market, he said, still requires a process of socialization and preparation. Specifically, Perwali Number 61 of 2018 concerning Reducing the Use of Plastic Bags will be revised in connection with the expansion of policy implementation.

“Besides being prepared, for the wet market, we still have to think about what kind of substitution, if not what kind of plastic we are still thinking about. The expansion of this application, from the modern market to the traditional market, will take two years, so entering the wet market will also take time, but I am sure it will be implemented before 2024 as well," he said.

It was noted that since the implementation of the plastic bag ban policy in Bogor City, the amount of plastic waste that was able to be reduced was quite significant, namely 10 percent of the total 2.5 tons per day.

"The majority of Bogor City's plastic waste comes from the market," he said.

Bima said he would coordinate with the central government to minimize the use of plastic bags by producers of food and other goods so that policies are more synergistic and support the implementation of plastic-free policies.

“So not from the merchant, but from the 'supplier' who is outside the city. I remind you that if you get to Bogor City, it will be removed or if it can be communicated or reminded so that if you send it to Bogor City, you don't have to use plastic wrap," he said.