Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Southeast Asia has officially launched a new recycled plastic aggregation centre in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. This initiative is in collaboration with consumer goods company Danone, through its bottled water brand AQUA. This centre forms a crucial part of the internationally recognized Prevented Ocean Plastic™ initiative, with AQUA providing funding for its construction and committing to being a primary customer for the recycled plastic processed on-site.
As reported by the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) in 2022, East Kalimantan accumulated over 791,000 tons of waste, with plastic comprising 19.5% of that total. This new aggregation centre, the first of its kind in the province, will enhance waste management infrastructure, tackling the increasing amounts of plastic waste in the region. Furthermore, it aims to create reliable income opportunities with dignified working conditions while supplying certified, traceable, premium-quality recycled plastic to global markets.
The centre is designed to facilitate the collection and recycling of disposable plastics, helping to prevent them from entering waterways that could pollute and harm fragile ecosystems. It will provide efficient waste management solutions to manage rising plastic waste, generate reliable job opportunities with good working conditions, and support the distribution of high-quality recycled plastic worldwide.
The facility is expected to process 500 tonnes of plastic waste each month and create approximately 90 direct jobs for local residents.
Vera Galuh Sugijanto, Vice President General Secretary of Danone Indonesia, stated:
“The inauguration of the Aggregation Center in Samarinda, a collaboration between AQUA and Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia, marks one of AQUA’s real steps in realizing its sustainable commitment and creating a positive impact on the environment through the #BijakBerplastik movement. This collaboration is expected to assist the Indonesian government with waste problems by developing circular economic infrastructure outside Java. Thus, the company can maximize its contributions to the waste reduction roadmap. In addition to being a form of the company’s commitment to implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation, this collective work aligns with the company’s sustainability strategy as stated in the Danone Impact Journey.”
Sahid Arifin, the site manager at the Samarinda centre, commented:
“Having an aggregation centre in Samarinda greatly supports the people of East Kalimantan. Covering Samarinda and its surrounding areas, this centre will be very good for reducing plastic waste in the region, and very helpful for local people who are searching for jobs. Thank you to Prevented Ocean Plastic™ for supporting our region.”
The area surrounding the new centre is home to vital waterways under threat from pollution, notably the Mahakam River, the second longest river in Indonesia. This river not only serves as a source of drinking water but also a means of transportation, and it supports the critically endangered Mahakam River Dolphin, with fewer than 90 remaining. The centre is also adjacent to the Mahakam Delta, which directly feeds into the ocean and houses at-risk mangrove forests. By streamlining the collection and recycling of discarded plastics, the centre aims to prevent waste from contaminating these waterways and harming sensitive ecosystems.
This marks the ninth centre opened by Prevented Ocean Plastic™ since launching its mission to establish 25 collection centres on coastlines vulnerable to plastic pollution worldwide by 2025. To achieve this goal, Prevented Ocean Plastic™ collaborates with innovative organizations like Circulate Capital and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to create effective plastic collection infrastructures equipped with traceability systems that align with forthcoming extended producer responsibility requirements. Each centre adheres to the Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Standards, the industry’s most comprehensive criteria that promote responsible sourcing and ensure safe, dignified working conditions. These standards comply with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code and draw from the Code of Good Practice established by ISEAL, as well as Bantam Materials UK Ltd.’s Good Manufacturing Practices and effective supply chain processes.
Raffi Schieir, Director of Prevented Ocean Plastic™, remarked:
“At Prevented Ocean Plastic™, we are committed to championing better choices in the plastic recycling supply chain. This partnership with Danone is a step change in the level of engagement we are getting from the industry, proving our repeatable and scalable vertical value model. We hope consumers, government, business, and thought leaders can continue to support and invest in this meaningful journey toward a just transition for plastic collectors in at-risk coastal regions.”
For more information about Prevented Ocean Plastic™, please visit: www.preventedoceanplastic.com.
[1] https://ptes.org/grants/worldwide-projects/mahakam-river-dolphins-indonesia/
