In rural Indonesia, mountains of plastic waste are going up in flames. And much of it didn’t even come from there.
Imported plastic — from countries like the US, UK, and Australia — is being dumped across villages, where locals burn it for fuel or just to get rid of it. The smoke is toxic. The damage is real. But it’s still happening.
A recent report spotlights this growing crisis. In East Java, families living near plastic dump sites breathe in the fumes daily. Children play next to soot-covered fields. It’s a public health disaster hiding in plain sight.
Why is this happening? One reason: a loophole. Developed countries often export used paper for recycling — but sneak in plastic waste with it. Once it lands in Indonesia, poor waste regulation means it’s often dumped, burned, or buried.
Authorities haven’t done much. Activists say the practice violates international law. But enforcement is weak, and the plastic just keeps coming.
Burning waste might seem like a local issue, but this one has global fingerprints. It’s a dirty chain — and Indonesia is paying the price.
*This story was originally published on https://www.dw.com/ and is republished here with permission.*
