Plastic Waste Piles Up as Indonesia’s Import Crackdown Backfires

Hundreds of containers of waste clog ports across Indonesia
Customs, port clearance taking weeks, driving up costs

An Indonesian custom officer stands as workers handle a container in Batam port on July 29.Photographer: Sei Ratifa/AFP via Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Viriya Singgih

August 1, 2019 at 9:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Follow Bloomberg on LINE messenger for all the business news and analysis you need.

Indonesia’s crackdown on waste imports is backfiring with its plastic recycling industry in disarray and hundreds of containers of used materials clogging its ports.