Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE ANALYSIS OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT INDONESIAN WATERSHEDS FROM THE ISSUE OF PLASTIC WASTE

Trias Hernanda, Absori, Aidul Fitriciada Azhari and Kelik Wardiono

Abstract

In Indonesia, the concept of sustainable development has long been applied, but unfortunately, not all targets have been achieved. One of the less successful programs is environmental protection for impacted watersheds. In Indonesia, watersheds are polluted by plastic waste, which contaminates the watersheds’ ecological area and river water with microplastic. This research focuses on Indonesian watersheds that are currently experiencing pollution from plastic waste. The data of this research were obtained firstly from the observation results of large watersheds in Indonesia. Secondly, the data were obtained from journal articles concerning watersheds. It would be very beneficial if the sustainable development concept is applied correctly by the Indonesian government. This situation will also benefit watershed protection in Indonesia. The principle of the legal state applied by Indonesia provides flexibility for the government to enforce regulations on environmental law violations as well as the illegal disposal of plastic waste in rivers. The sustainable development concept is already integrated in Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, but there is a lack of socialization and innovation in modern waste management in all Indonesian areas. This condition leads to the suboptimum application of the sustainable development concept. There needs to be innovation and strategies to carry out legal actions against people who violate the laws to save the Indonesian watersheds from plastic waste. Apart from enforcing the law, an alternative method is by motivating people to increase their awareness of environmental protection and providing training on how to manage waste well. It can also be carried out by giving feedback on watershed preservation and its advantages for the society. Apart from that, the Indonesian government may take the middle way by utilizing local wisdom-based eco-friendly products and encouraging sustainable waste management between Indonesian people’s dependency on plastic packaging.