Jakarta Environment (LH) Agency announced that Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub) No. 142/2020 concerning Obligations to Use Eco-Friendly Shopping Bags at Shopping Centers, Supermarkets, and Traditional Markets will be effective from July 1, 2020.

Tenants should provide only eco-friendly shopping bags that are not free

Jakarta LH Agency Head, Andono Warih conveyed, this Pergub requires all management of shopping centers, supermarkets, and traditional markets to use eco-friendly shopping bags.

"Jakarta Government prohibits the usage of disposable plastic shopping bags in those places," he asserted, Wednesday (6/10).

This Pergub regulates management of shopping centers, supermarkets and traditional markets to require all tenants in their managed areas to use eco-friendly shopping bags (KBRL) and prohibit disposable plastic shopping bags.

Moreover, management should inform this regulation to all tenants in shopping centers, supermarkets and traditional markets that they manage. All tenants are also prohibited to provide disposable plastic shopping bags.

"Tenants should provide only eco-friendly shopping bags that are not free," he mentioned.

During Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) period, he continued, there is an increase in the frequency of online shopping, both ready meals and online shopping services in form of packages. As the result, there is also an increase of plastic wrap waste.

"We encourage people to reduce plastic waste by following online shopping tips as recommended by Indonesian Science Institute. It can be done by supporting sellers and products without plastic packaging, asking sellers to reduce plastic packaging, and buying various products in one purchase or one large package," he explained.