Indonesia Makes Extended Producer Responsibility Mandatory for Plastic Packaging

Indonesia Makes Extended Producer Responsibility Mandatory for Plastic Packaging
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The Indonesian government has upgraded its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program from a voluntary to a mandatory system for manufacturers using plastic packaging, Vietnam Plus reported. Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stressed that companies must take full responsibility for waste generated by their products, particularly single-use plastics, which are harmful and slow to decompose.

The move forms part of Indonesia’s broader waste management strategy under the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan, aiming to meet national targets by 2029. Businesses across food and beverage, retail, manufacturing, cosmetics, and service sectors must now design collection and recycling plans and submit regular reports.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is supporting waste-to-energy projects in areas producing over 1,000 tonnes of waste daily, though these are considered a last resort due to cost and complexity. Experts said mandatory EPR will level the playing field, ensuring all enterprises share responsibility, but challenges remain in coordinating collection and recycling systems across the country.