The presence of Microplastics in Jakarta's rainwater, identified by the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN), has placed plastic pollution on a new level: that of the atmosphere. Local authorities recognize that the phenomenon requires technical responses and coordination between administrations, the scientific community, businesses, and residents.
The Department of Environment (DLH) of DKI Jakarta, headed by Asep Kuswanto, takes these results as a wake-up call. The message they convey is clear: plastic management It must be reinforced at source and accompanied by continuous monitoring of air and rain to guide public decisions based on evidence.
What BRIN has discovered and why it is worrying
BRIN has been analyzing since 2018 The deposition of microplastics in the capital. Evidence indicates that these particles travel through the atmosphere and eventually return with precipitation, extending the problem beyond rivers and seas. The discovery demands measures that are scientific, measurable and collaborative.
Currently there are none national thresholds that define safety limits for microplastics in the air or rainwater. This regulatory gap reinforces the need to expand environmental monitoring and prepare proposals for data-supported technical standards.
What measures is the DKI Provincial Government taking?
The local government has intensified its control of plastic waste from its generation to its treatment. Among the ongoing actions, the governor's regulation stands out. 142/2019, which requires the use of reusable bags in stores, as well as the expansion of the program Jakstrada waste with a target of 30% reduction at source.
Along with this, a decentralized management network is being consolidated, promoting waste banks, 3R points (reduce, reuse, recycle) and community recycling experiences to prevent plastic from ending up in open spaces.
- Restriction of single-use plastics and reusable bags in stores.
- goals of 30% reduction from the waste generated at source (Jakstrada).
- expansion of waste banks and 3R points in neighborhoods.
- Boost of community recycling and improved control of diffuse discharge.
For DLH, the key is to involve households, businesses, and industrial sectors in prevention, an approach that reinforces the reduction of plastic consumption and its proper separation at the point of generation. In the words of the organization, everyone has a role in this chain.
Monitoring with JEDI and science to decide
DLH and BRIN are expanding the monitoring of microplastics in the air and rain through the platform JEDI (Jakarta Environmental Data Integration), a system that centralizes measurement and analysis to facilitate integrated management of environmental quality.
The objective is to cement evidence-based public policies based on robust data sets. With this information, authorities aim to identify trends, assess the impact of measures, and prioritize areas requiring specific interventions.
Filtration technology and alliances
The provincial government is considering the implementation of filtration technologies for both air and rainwater in areas and applications where it is feasible and effective. The line of work includes applied research and innovation for more sustainable products.
DLH declares itself open to collaborations with research centers, companies, and environmental organizations to develop and validate solutions, aligning public objectives with the technological capabilities of the private sector.
Education, campaigns and shared responsibility
The local administration is reinforcing a public campaign that encourages people to reduce single-use plastics, properly separate waste and avoid burning itUnder the adapted slogan "Jakarta doesn't want plastic in the sky or on the ground," the initiative seeks everyday and cross-cutting involvement.
This communication effort aims to ensure that prevention penetrates homes, businesses and services, extending good consumption and management practices that prevent the dispersion of plastic particles into the environment.
Regulatory gaps and next steps
In the absence of national criteria Regarding microplastic limits, DLH and BRIN will prepare technical proposals for quality standards to guide monitoring in air and rain. The goal is for the policy to advance at the pace of evidence and provide certainty for all stakeholders.
In parallel, the lines of action combine prevention at source, extended monitoring, mitigation technology and social participation, with the expectation of reducing the plastic load that reaches the atmosphere and returns with precipitation.
The institutional response is already underway: regulatory and operational reinforcement, more measurement and better science to decide, as well as open collaboration with the research community and the productive sector. The challenge is sustained and long-term, but the foundations for coordination, monitoring, and joint action have been laid.
