Preventing plastic from ending up in seas and oceans around the world is a major challenge but a vital one for the health of the planet. UN World Oceans Day 2021 on 8th June was created to draw attention to this endemic issue that is impacting on coastal destruction, ocean pollution and damaging marine life irreparably across Indonesia and the world. While this remains a daunting issue to tackle, there are individuals, companies and organisations making a big difference to turn the tide on ocean plastic pollution and one such company is Polindo Utama who has been recognised as a ‘Hero of Recycling’.
The collection of plastic begins with coastal and inland rubbish collectors who work tirelessly to collect plastic bottles and other items that would otherwise end up in the ocean. Often marginalised in society, across Indonesia’s numerous islands such as Java and Bali these rubbish collectors are playing a vital role in reducing plastic pollution on a large scale. The collected plastic and other items are then brought to collection centres where they are sorted and compacted into bales serving as the supply for the recycled plastic industry.
The next stage in the supply chain are the factories such as Polindo Utama who convert thousands of tons of collected plastic into PET flakes and high-quality end products. The company, which started from humble beginnings and a bold vision now has over 1,500 employees with 18 collection centres throughout the main islands of Indonesia including Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Looking to the future, Polindo Utama plans to keep expanding its network of collection centres to prevent more plastic being dumped into the ocean and ensure that it is used to create new products for a no waste production loop.
Learn more about the UN World Oceans Day and the Heroes of Recycling here