The habit of society and various institutions in Indonesia in using plastic-based products is one of the causes of the failure of waste management systems in Yogyakarta and Indonesia, revealed by Pipit Noviyani, S.Si., Coordinator of Biodiversity Conservation, PIAT UGM. The easiest example is when PIAT UGM is visited by guests and does not provide bottled drinks, it is often considered disrespectful, Pipit continued. This was expressed in a discussion between IRS-CRCS students and PIAT UGM during the Graduate School field visit to PIAT UGM, on Thursday (4/25).

Responding to this, Frans Jozef Servaas Wijsen, a foreign lecturer from the IRS from the Netherlands, said that society wants to get cheaper costs from the use of plastic. However, in the long run, society will actually pay much more dearly due to soil pollution.

This discussion became even more interesting when Anna Amalia, an IRS student, expressed the need for religious institutions to issue a fatwa prohibiting the use of plastic materials. Therefore, society can restrain themselves from using plastic.

At the end of the discussion, it was concluded the need for collaboration from various parties, from individuals to institutions, to manage waste wisely in accordance with local wisdom. Thus, the sustainability of nature and the environment will be maintained. It will also help understanding of the SDGs values, especially Sustainable Cities and Communities and Climate Change Mitigation.

Keywords: SDGs Number 12 Responsible Consumption and Production; SDGs Number 15 Life on Land,

Author: Surono