Surabaya (19/08) – Environmental activists in East Java, Indonesia affiliated with the Ecological Observation and Wetland Conservations(Ecoton Foundation), staged a protest involving 50 people carrying baby dolls wrapped in plastic waste in front of the Australian Consulate General. They demanded an end to waste shipments from Australia to Indonesia. In 2024, 60-82% of Australia’s paper waste was sent to Indonesia, bringing with it contamination from flexible plastic scrap, multilayer, and dirty plastic packaging that cannot be recycled. These materials are accumulating at illegal dumpsites in Gedangrowo Village and other villages near paper factories that import this waste. Each month, approximately 4,000 tons of Australian paper waste are sent to Indonesia, weighing between 50,000-60,000 tons. This amount exceeds the volume of waste produced and managed at the Benowo Landfill in Surabaya City. Australia also exports plastic scrap, and Indonesia remains the top destination for Australia’s plastic scrap exports, with around 150-200 containers of plastic waste being sent to Indonesia each month in 2024.
“This protest was organized in response to the lack of an official reply from the Australian Consulate General, along with our findings that Australian waste is increasingly accumulating in two villages in Sidoarjo Regency. We demand accountability and urge Australia to stop sending waste to Indonesia, as it poses a potential threat to babies and the environment in East Java,” said Alaika Rahmatullah, the coordinator of the protest.
Heavy Metal Pollution from Deinking Process Contaminates the Brantas River
This imported plastic waste is known to enter through shipments of paper waste that are mixed with plastic. Paper mills only take the paper waste and dump the plastic waste in dumpsites. In practice, paper mills carry out a deinking process, which is an integral part of recycling used paper, involving the use of various chemicals such as surfactants, bleaching agents, and other chemicals to help remove ink from the paper fibers. After the ink is removed, the wastewater contains ink residues, chemicals, and heavy metal particles, which are produced as byproducts.
Alaika, as he is commonly known, also revealed that his team conducted research throughout August at the wastewater outlets of paper mills and found contamination with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. This is extremely hazardous to the environment and human health because it is discharged into the Brantas River, which flows through densely populated areas in East Java and is used as a source of raw water for PDAM (municipal water companies), irrigation, and fish farming.
Australian Plastic Waste Triggers Dioxin Pollution
Environmental pollution in East Java is now facing a serious threat with the rising levels of dioxins caused by the processing of imported plastic waste, including that from Australia. Dioxins are highly toxic chemical compounds and are considered some of the most dangerous pollutants to human health. These compounds are produced when plastic waste is burned. At the dumpsites for imported plastic waste in Gedangrowo Village and Wirobiting Village in Sidoarjo Regency, the plastic waste is also burned to extract the wires wrapped around the plastic scrap. Additionally, plastic scrap is used as fuel in tofu factories in Tropodo Village.
Rafika Aprilianti, a researcher from Ecoton, stated, “Dioxins can cause serious health issues such as cancer, reproductive system disorders, and damage to the immune system. High concentrations of dioxins in the air have also impacted air quality in East Java, particularly in Wirobiting, Gedangrowo, and Tropodo villages. This is extremely harmful to the local communities, especially children and infants, who are highly vulnerable to air pollution.”
Microplastics from Australian Waste Threaten the Health of East Java Infants
Environmental pollution caused by imported plastic waste from Australia has raised serious concerns in East Java, particularly regarding the impact of microplastics on human health. Ecoton revealed alarming findings: 17 microplastic particles per 10 grams in human feces, 12 particles per 4 placentas in pregnant women, 0.45 particles per mL in sperm, and 2.3 particles per mL in breast milk. Additionally, Ecoton’s research in Sidoarjo Regency found 21.8 particles per hour in the air.
“Microplastics from Australian waste pose a significant threat to infant health. Our research found microplastics in the human body, entering through the digestive and respiratory systems. This is deeply concerning as it can lead to hormonal disruptions, reproductive issues, fetal deformities, and other chronic diseases,” said Rafika Aprilianti, who also serves as the Head of the Ecoton Laboratory.
Dangerous Recycling Process
Indonesia is still unprepared in terms of facilities and safe plastic waste management to handle waste from other countries. Ecoton’s research revealed that recycling activities in East Java produce 346 hazardous chemicals containing Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). EDCs can interfere with human hormonal systems, causing various health problems, including developmental issues in fetuses and infants, as well as an increased risk of cancer.
Australia Must Be Held Accountable
The impact of these practices is immediate and directly felt by the community, especially infants who are born with high exposure to dangerous pollutants. Chandra Iman Asrori, an activist from the Brantas River Forum, stated, “Indonesia must tighten regulations on imported waste and increase oversight of waste import activities, as well as provide better protection for public health.”
The activists demand that the Australian Consulate General immediately halt the shipment of plastic waste to Indonesia and prioritize a more responsible approach to waste management within its own country.
The activists’ demands in this protest include:
- Australia must stop sending waste to Indonesia and take responsibility for cleaning up its waste at the imported waste dumpsites in East Java.
- Australia must provide transparency regarding the amount of impurities in the containers of paper waste sent to Indonesia.
- Respond officially to Ecoton’s letter regarding commitments and progress in stopping plastic waste shipments to Indonesia.
- Australia must manage its plastic waste independently without burdening developing countries like Indonesia.
Ecoton (Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation) is a foundation focused on the conservation of river ecosystems and wetlands in Indonesia. We conduct scientific research, environmental education, and awareness campaigns to improve water quality and protect biodiversity.
