Editor's notes

Last week, Indonesia, the world’s second-largest marine polluter, celebrated National Waste Awareness Day.

We have published two research-based articles  discussing challenges and solutions for waste in this country.


Research by Tim van Emmerik of Wageningen University, the Netherlands, finds that Ciliwung river, which divides Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

A second article comes from Tammara Soma from Canada’s Simon Fraser University. She shares three strategies for Indonesian policymakers to solve the country's food waste problems to help fix its reputation as  the second-largest contributor of food waste in the world after Saudi Arabia.

Asmiati Malik of Universitas Bakrie responds to the government’s plan to evaluate special funds worth US$7.4 billion for Papua and explains why giving money to the country’s most impoverished region is not enough.

We have also published an analysis about Monash University’s plan to become the first foreign university to open a branch in this country.

Ika Krismantari

Deputy Executive Editor

On Waste
Riverine plastic pollution is new science but necessary to stop overflowing waste coming to oceans. Mast Irham/EPA

Research: Indonesia’s Ciliwung among the world’s most polluted rivers

Tim van Emmerik, Wageningen University

The study also finds the weight of plastic waste from all rivers in Jakarta totals 2.1 million kilograms equivalent to 1,000 Tesla Model S cars.
Indonesia’s target to be waste-free by 2035 needs to include food waste from households. Wikimedia Commons

Three solutions for Indonesia to reduce food waste

Tammara Soma, Simon Fraser University

Waste-free by 2035 in Indonesia is doable through three strategies to reduce food waste.

Eastern Indonesia development

Higher Education