REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Environmental Management Agency of Bandung recorded that the is a reduction in the number of plastic waste during the last three months. This reduction is a positive impact on the implementation of the policy of paid plastic in Bandung.

"The results of our study, shows a significant reduction on plastic waste in Bandung. The decrease has reached up to 42 percent,” Head of Bandung's Environmental Management Agency Hikmat Ginanjar said when contacted on Wednesday (15/6).

Hikmat assess the success of the policy is a proof that suppressing the use of environmentally harmful plastics is possible. This policy is also a step to change human behavior.

With the implementation of paid plastic bags, people's behavior when shopping has changed. Many residents bring their own bags instead of using plastic ones from shopping.

These changes in behavior is to be part of an educational goal and it shows that people has become more aware of environmental preservation. "Changing people's behavior means that they are also rescuing the earth," he said.

Another positive impact, he added, is that the Indonesian Retailers Association (APRINDO) has implemented positive measures to support the reduction of plastic. Namely, by making innovative eco-friendly shopping bags.

The impact of enforced paid plastic policy during the three months will be studied nationally further. The results will be then be issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (KLHK) on the paid plastic bag policy, to determine whether there will be a nominal increase in the price of plastic or to enforce this policy in traditional markets as well.

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