PLASTIC-FREE IDUL ADHA 2019

A common sight during the celebration of Idul Adha (the Islamic Day of Sacrifice) in nearly every mosque and community area in Jakarta may involve tons of kresek (single-use plastic bags) to contain the slaughtered meat to be distributed to residents.

Cheap and convenient, kresek have long been the go-to carrier for many people on many occasions, including Idul Adha. However, for this year’s celebration, which is to fall on Aug. 11, different carriers may replace the popular plastic bags as environmental consciousness is being encouraged in a bid to up the fight against the plastic waste plaguing the capital city. Of the city’s daily 7,500 tons of waste, 30 percent is plastic.

The Jakarta administration has issued a circular suggesting Muslims distribute the qurban (sacrifice) meat using eco-friendly packaging. In the announcement disseminated by the Jakarta Environment Agency, the city urges people to replace plastic bags with alternatives like food containers, paper boxes, besek (containers made of plaited bamboo) or biodegradable bags. Residents are also urged to bring their own containers to the mosques to take home the meat.

The circular, signed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on July 19, also asked clerics and qurban committees in local communities to take part in the green campaign.

“Please give religious understanding to the importance of preventing ecological damage through the use of eco-friendly meat containers,” he stated in the circular.

Responding to it, a member of the qurban committee in the Jami’ Nurul Iman Mosque in Palmerah, West Jakarta, Mahfud, said he welcomed the suggestion but also called for the city to provide the alternatives.

“We’ve been using plastic for years. It’s cheap and convenient,” he told The Jakarta Post on Monday. “If the city wants to change that, then please help us find the besek or banana leaf suppliers. If the cost exceeds our budget, then support us with subsidies too,” the 81-year-old said.

Mahfud explained that aside from accepting live livestock for sacrifice like goats, sheep and cattle, the mosque also collects donations from people who want to chip in to buy cattle.

According to the rules of the qurban ritual in Idul Adha, one cow can be sacrificed for seven people, who contribute Rp 3 million (US$213) each.

The money would be used to pay the butchers, cleaners and those whose house areas have been used to keep the animals several days before Idul Adha. Only a small portion of it would be used to buy ropes, tarpaulin and plastic bags, he added.

A piece of kresek with at least 50 pieces costs about Rp 10,000, which is cheaper than bamboo besek that costs from Rp 700 to Rp 1,500 a piece.
The growing consciousness about plastic waste has also brought benefits to an eco-friendly plastic bag maker in Bekasi, West Java, which has been receiving orders since three weeks before Idul Adha.


By : Michella Eleanor