Indonesia makes plastic recycling mandatory for producers
Making recycling mandatory is part of a broader strategy to achieve the government’s waste management targets by 2029, as outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Previously, Indonesia banned plastic scrap imports from January 1, 2025.
Jakarta (VNA)✤ – The Indonesian government is upgrading the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism, which was previously voluntary, into a mandatory scheme for product manufacturers that use plastic packaging.
Indonesian Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has emphasised that manufacturers must take greater responsibility for the waste generated by their products, especially single-use plastics that are harmful and difficult to decompose.
Making recycling mandatory is part of a broader strategy to achieve the government’s waste management targets by 2029, as outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Previously, Indonesia banned plastic scrap imports from January 1, 2025.
The regulation is expected to have a strong impact on many sectors, especially food and beverage, retail, manufacturing, cosmetics and services. Enterprises must develop specific collection and recycling plans and report periodically. In parallel, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is also promoting waste-to-energy projects in localities that generate more than 1,000 tonnes of waste per day, but considers this a last resort due to high costs and complex requirements.
Experts said that the mandatory EPR will create a fair playing field, forcing all businesses to share responsibility. However, Indonesia still faces major challenges when the collection and recycling system is not synchronised./.
Sri Mulyani said the budget revenue figure is “ambitious,” as the highest budget revenue growth in the past three years was only 5.6%, while in 2025 it is expected to increase by only 0.5%.
In his first state of the nation speech, delivered as the country celebrates 80 years of independence, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that a total of 5 million hectares of palm plantations have been under scrutiny for operating in protected forest areas, not reporting their actual size, or not responding to summons from auditors.
Speaking at the opening session of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on August 15, Prabowo said this optimism is based on sound financial management, coupled with economic restructuring and productivity improvements. He also set a target for interest rates to remain at around 6.9%.
ASEAN Express, a new cross-border freight rail service, is being hailed as a breakthrough in international rail connectivity, expected to strengthen Thailand’s and ASEAN’s economic competitiveness in the near future.
An illegal wildlife trade case involving 16 protected eagles has been busted in Central Bangka district, Bangka Belitung Islands province of Indonesia.
Singapore has been ranked fifth among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, marking the third consecutive year it has remained in the top five.
Senior defence officials of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Philippines discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and weapon industry at their meeting in Seoul on September 15.
From September 16, residents and visitors can enjoy a safer, cleaner, and higher-quality travel option aboard the company’s signature cyan taxis, with special promotions available for new users.
The declaration, endorsed at the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM) in Bali, commits regional prosecutors to closer coordination in addressing transnational offenses such as online gambling, scams, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border asset smuggling.
CAMEX features 17 themed pavilions, including 10 dedicated to ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as well as a regional pavilion from Guangxi, China. It also hosts a special World Halal Trade Centre and themed areas for other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The Indonesian government has confirmed that it will stop providing incentives for imported completely built-up (CBU) battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026.
The ministry warned that the RSV can easily spread through mucus, saliva and toys around children. Currently, there is no specific treatment or RSV vaccine for children, so families were urged to take preventive measures.
Thailand has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets for artificial intelligence (AI), with OpenAI reporting that weekly active users of ChatGPT in the country have quadrupled over the past year.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is driving forward the Land Bridge mega-project, valued at nearly 1 trillion THB (31.5 billion USD), to stimulate the economy and attract long-term investment.
A discussion on Vietnamese cuisine, culture and tourism was held in Tel Aviv on September 14, aiming to deepen the understanding of Vietnamese culture and promote people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Israel, especially as the two countries expand cooperation across multiple fields.
Confirmed initiatives include the revival of the popular "Half-Half" co-payment scheme. Other proposals under discussion - though not yet finalised - include the "We Travel Together" tourism stimulus programme, decentralisation efforts and disaster mitigation strategies.
Fidel’s words to the gathered soldiers: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood!” captured the very essence of the friendship forged between the two nations, a relationship nurtured through resilience, dignity, and internationalist spirit.
The satellite Nusantara 5 (N5), launched by Indonesia, is expected to strengthen connectivity in Indonesia's eastern region, supporting distance learning, digital health care, and providing access to information and entertainment for remote communities.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is preparing 17 locations to be designated as specific national strategic areas (KSNT) for blue carbon reserves.
The ASEAN task force is not identical to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) but is intended to serve as a platform for collective discussions and joint actions when ASEAN countries face shared threats.
