ENVIRONMENT - JAKARTA. Currently, there are around 15 startup companies in waste management in Indonesia, but only a few of them have built waste collection points such as depositing money at an ATM machine (automated teller machine). Waste ATM will make it easier to monitor the movement of carbon emissions.
Several startups working in the environment sector, especially waste/garbage, include Mountrash, Waste4Change, Plastikpay, Reciki, Rekosistem, Rebricks, EwasteRJ, Fleet Packaging, MallSampah, Gringo, Angkuts, Mulung.co, SMASH, Limbahagia, Pojokplastic.
Currently, the Waste ATM that is being discussed is made by Mountrash. With the slogan "A smart way to clean the environment through technology by inviting people to contribute to reducing, reusing and recycling", inspired Mountrash to develop Smartbox-based waste collection with IoT (internet of things) and AI (artificial intelligence) technology.
"We really support the 2025 Clean Waste Program launched by the government. Moreover, February 21, 2023 will be the Commemoration of National Waste Awareness Day. There have been orders for this Smartbox from various groups, such as from the local government, private sector, institutions, organizations and schools," said Gideon Wijaya, CEO of Mountrash Indonesia, during a visit to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Tuesday (14/) .
According to him, by creating collaboration between technology and environmental concern, the future of the earth will be better. Apart from that, countries in the world fully support the issue of climate change which was also presented at the G20. With a target of reducing the greenhouse effect by 29% in 2030 and zero emission in 2060.
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Plastic Waste Management
Gideon explained that the problem of waste management, especially plastic waste, has become an issue that is of concern to many people around the world. Plastic is a recycled product that is difficult to decompose. Therefore, it is important to think about how to carry out proper plastic management so that it does not have a negative impact on the environment.
He claims that Indonesia has a national information system for waste management that is accessible at https://sipsn.menlhk.go.id/sipsn/. According to available data, the amount of nationally mismanaged garbage is approximately 22.79%, or up to 4 million tonnes annually. Food waste accounts for about 41.3% of the waste composition, with wood, paper, cloth, glass, metal, leather, and plastic following closely behind.
Plastic waste is the simplest to dispose of and frequently has no regard for the environment. Plastic makes up 11.3% of all waste generated in the country and is commonly found in homes, traditional markets, public spaces, workplaces, and trade hubs.
According to information from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, about 11–12% of plastic is being recycled. In order to compel all parties to assist the achievement of a 30% reduction in trash from the source with a target of clean waste by 2025, the Indonesian government has issued Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 97 of 2017.
Several business lines, including waste banks, compost, creative products, energy sources, waste processing sites that reduce, reuse, and recycle (TPS3R), recycling centers (PDU), and intermediate treatment facilities, have been developed as part of an integrated system to realize the 2025 Clean Waste Program (ITF).
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In the meantime, according to Febrio Kacaribu, Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), Ministry of Finance, the budget for combating climate change has reached IDR 89.6 trillion annually during the last five years, or around 34% of the IDR 266.2 trillion in yearly financing requirements.
The discussion of carbon pricing systems (carbon economic value/NEK), which can be implemented through carbon trading, carbon offsets, performance-based rewards, and carbon taxes, is also among the intriguing topics.
Gideon emphasized that the Mountrash Smartbox will allow for easier monitoring of the implementation of carbon taxes in the future, allowing for the creation of behavior that will support the reduction of carbon emissions, promote innovation and investment while taking into account the principles of fairness, affordability and gradual implementation.
