PRODUCTION of garbage in Indonesia increasingly horrible. Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forests says, the waste of Indonesian society reaches 65 million tons per day. The results of research conducted by a researcher from the University of Georgia, United States, in 2015 also mentioned that Indonesia is the second largest contributor of plastic waste in the world after China. At that time, the weight of donated plastic waste reached 187.2 million tons.
Tens of millions of tons of waste produced per day is certainly not a small number. We are sorry to the fact that tens of millions of tonnes produced per day are garbage, not agricultural products that can be exported abroad. Unfortunately, many do not realize that the waste production we produce every day has contributed to bury the planet earth. Plastic waste can indeed be recycled, but the majority of the world's plastics are designed to be thrown away.
Not a trivial matter
During this time many people think that garbage is just a trivial matter. Trash is only dirty and the effect is not until it bleeds. Trash is considered not as dangerous as corruption or violation of human rights. But in fact, waste can be fatal to claim lives. In 2005, 157 Leuwigajah residents in West Java died from high rainfall and methane gas explosions in the waste piles in landfills. In addition, two villages also have to disappear from the map due to rolled up an avalanche of waste from the landfill. The incident also later became the forerunner of the determination of February 21 as Hari Peduli Sampah Nasional.
Not only that, the rubbish that supposedly trivial and personal issues that have damaged the environment and harm other God's creatures. In Kenya, there is a turtle hospital that specializes in caring for animals that ingest plastic waste. At the hospital, most turtles are treated for abdominal swelling, because they consume too much plastic. Some other turtles must also be treated, because the nose is bleeding by accidentally swallowing a drinking straw, something he has never used.
Turtles are a small example of how
human-generated waste has ruined the lives of other divine beings. It must be the sacrifice of human greed and ferocity exploiting the earth and prevailing above all land and sea. If a plastic straw can hurt another creature, then what about the tons of garbage we produce every day? Bottled mineral water, snack packs, household waste, and a variety of other rubbish. Where garbage-the trash is emptying? Who else will be the victims of human activities with tens of tons the trash?
Regardless of turtles as victims, previously the majority of the public also understands that if not managed properly, then existence
garbage often trigger catastrophe. Call it, overflowing river water due to piles of garbage resulting in flooding. If not managed properly, garbage is a problem. If removed, the plastic will pollute the environment. If burned, the smoke pollutes the air. If not burned, the garbage also pollutes the surrounding environment. The ill-fated event at Leuwigajah is a real example of how waste can be a source of big trouble.
Not producing waste is not easy, but we can reduce the amount. Efforts to preserve the environment certainly not only talk the impact of oil palm plantations or even cut down trees, but also starts from small things. If the environmental damage is caused by the clearing of oil palm plantations that are notabenenya done by the rich, then we can safeguard by reducing the amount of waste usage. Because the contribution of environmental destruction is not only by illegal logging, but also from production
waste generated daily.
If today we consider that not littering is already complete in maintaining the environment, then the assumption is wrong. In fact, not littering is a weak-weak faith of environmental custody. Garbage generated will accumulate in landfill that may then empty into the ocean. We never know, who will get hurt from
waste that we produce it. It may be that turtles eat plastic waste, poisoned fish with chemical substances, or even human deaths. If throw away garbage in its place is seen as weak-weak faith of environmental guard, then what about littering?
Reduce waste production
Seeing the environmental conditions are increasingly buried with plastic waste, then reduce the use of plastics should be encouraged to reduce waste production. For example the movement to bring bottled water to reduce the production of waste generated from mineral water bottles. Although impressed simply, this movement will have an effect to reduce the amount of daily use of plastic waste. The calculation is simple, if everyone who moves outdoors or in one agency each brings drinking water in his own bottle, then how much bottled waste can be reduced by buying mineral water.
So also for students in schools need to reduce snacks that are wrapped in plastic. Sukma Bangsa Lhokseumawe School, for example. According to the teacher at the school that now the cafeteria at Sukma Bangsa School began to get used to no longer using plastic as a food wrapper, but using banana leaves. So also with refilled drinks to drink bottles of each student. This is indeed impressed back to the old days. Very traditional. But nature does not need modernity if it will only damage the environment.
But efforts to reduce garbage with a bottle of their own drink and not buy mineral water does not mean without obstacles. For some people, bringing their own drink bottles is considered troublesome. For some this man is even considered a bit embarrassing. There is a frequently heard statement that the man carrying the bottle itself looks like a woman or a kindergarten child. Though not going down degrees and the dignity and dignity of men just because carrying a bottle of drinking from home.
Apart from that, it is not always an effort to save the environment to talk about forests and laws. Many small efforts have a big impact that can be done. While governments and employers play a major role in saving the environment through legislation and the wisdom of managing businesses, communities are also responsible for protecting the environment. Plastic waste is not as simple as a detergent ad tagline that says that dirty dare is good. Because in fact, the garbage can not rot and invite disaster even in the creatures of God who never use it.
It does not take many theories to help save the earth. Reduce
waste means reducing the number of disasters. This sin to nature and humanity must be stopped immediately.