Management strategy of plastic waste in the Cimandiri River-Sukabumi, West Java

Abstract

Plastic waste is an emerging global and national issue. However, the global concern about plastic waste in the river system is even decreasing. Cimandiri Watershed is the most important watershed within the Sukabumi Regency area which flows to the Palabuhanratu Bay. Nowadays, the plastic pollution of the Cimadiri River water that ends up in the coastal area of Palabuhanratu becoming a sensitive and critical issue. Plastic waste directly threatens local coastal tourism as a major activity of the local economy. Each stakeholder is aware that plastic pollution is a consequence of anthropogenic activities along the stream of the Cimandiri River that are becoming widespread. Several policy steps have been taken by the local government, to resolve the issue and remain unsuccessful but they are still not successful. To resolve the problems, this paper aims to perform policy analysis to formulate the necessary priority policy strategy. The cause-effect analysis and gap analysis were used to resolve the appropriate plastic waste management behavior and management strategy. The management strategies for the proper management of plastic waste management in the Cimandiri River are improving community behavior by raising public knowledge, implementing legal regulation and social processes, developing technological innovation for the handling of transported plastic waste in the river flows and temporary community-friendly landfills, conduct more 3R (reduce-reuse-recycle) and waste bank management training and build policy affirmations on improving the management of plastic waste.