An overview of the circular economy activity for small island wastes and marine debris

Abstract

The national regulation’s scheme to tackle waste and debris in Indonesia’s small islands is by applying the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) program. This concept was written in Presidential Regulation no 97 in the year 2017, regarding the National Strategy and Policy of the Management for Household Waste and Similar Waste. Presidential Regulation no. 83/2018 regarding Marine Debris Management also focused on minimizing trash and wastes leaked into the marine water due to anthropogenic activities. The term circular economy has grown significantly since Boulding initiated it in 1966 to countermeasure pollution problems. This paper presents the reality of waste management that occurs in small islands and recommendations for sustainable management according to the circular economy concept. The methodology for this paper was by studying regulations in Indonesia, reviewing circular economy literature, and surveying the reality of waste management implementation in small islands in Kepulauan Seribu, Karimun Jawa, and Wakatobi. The results of the study provide a surprising reality but are common in small islands. Non-organic and solid waste that has no economic value (to be recycled) is used as reclamation material. Economical waste for recycling is managed by a waste bank organization. Organic waste is made into compost or burned in an incinerator that is still functioning. The waste residue on the island is then transported using a garbage transport ship (specifically for the Kepulauan Seribu). For the Karimun Jawa Islands, residual waste is only collected at the temporary dumping area (TPS) in the form of a landfill. Similarly, what happened in the Wakatobi Islands, the residual waste was piled up at the TPS. The implementation of a circular economy in small islands achieves only 2R (reuse and recycle) activities of the 7Rs (redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, recycle, and recover). Based on the observation of activities of commercial organizations or communities, the status for implementing a fully circular economy on the small islands is a long journey ahead.