Even though the price of a plastic bag was Rp.200,-, it was still a great start in controlling plastic bags consumption. Unfortunately it only lasted for seven months, from the end of February to the beginning of October 2016. The trial regulation was not strong enough to support the implementation of paid plastic bags. Customers could sue retail stores. It was because the trial was based on the Circular Letter of Director General of Waste Management in the Ministry of Environment.  Therefore, if a Ministerial Regulation were released concerning paid plastic bags, then it would be strong enough to last forever.

Rather than paid plastic bag, it would be even better if plastic bag could be banned. It has happened recently in Indonesia, but not nationally. For instance, the city of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan Province through local regulation has banned the use of plastic bag at any retail store in the city as stated in PERWAL No. 8 Year 2018. The regulation has been implemented effectively since July 2018 and it is still running up to now.  Starting from 1^st January 2019, the government of Makassar City in South Sulawesi will ban the use of plastic bags in any retail stores.

As Balikpapan and Makassar set as examples in banning plastic bags, I hope that the national government in Indonesia will follow suit. But even if they can’t, at the very least I hope that the paid plastic bag regulation would be reenacted with a much more higher price.