Kotabaru shares 200 purun baskets to replace plastic bag

Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The management of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) in Kotabaru District distributed 200 bakul purun (woven basket from grass) to visitors of a mini market in Semayap, North Pulau Laut Sub-district, in lieu of plastic bag.


This activity is a form of support for the plastic waste reduction program being promoted by the local government.

"We are helping the local government program in reducing plastic waste. Today we distributed 200 bakul purun in order people would no longer use plastic bags for shopping," said Chairwoman of the PKK Kotabaru Hj Fatma Idiana Sayed Jafar here Tuesday.

Bakul purun that was distributed came from PT PLN's CSR program by empowering artisans in Sampanahan Sub-District.

Indirectly the ban on the use of disposable plastic bags which began to be implemented by the Kotabaru District Government earlier this year throughout the minimarkets brought blessings to purun artisans.

"This basket is the result of the craft of our community in Sampanahan," Fatma said.

Previously, the Head of the Environmental Agency Arif Fadillah said the restrictions on the use of disposable plastic bags in order to reduce plastic waste which have long been applied in various regions in Indonesia.

Since January 2019, the policy has been implemented in Kotabaru Regency, starting with modern retail and shops in the North Pulau Laut Sub-district.

"The requirements for obtaining Adipura are now starting to be complicated. Regions must make strategic policies regarding the management of household and similar household waste. Now this is one of the administrative requirements to be assessed," he explained.

On the other hand, the policy of reducing plastic waste turned out to also benefit retailers.

Rahmadi, manager of one of the minimarkets, said that he had saved millions of rupiah every month since he no longer provided plastic bags to consumers.

"Yes, there are advantages too, usually every month we provide 10 sack of plastic bags, if it's cashed around Rp 10 million, it can automatically save a little," he said.