Plastic Waste Management: Opportunities and Challenges in Implementing Circular Economy in Gorontalo

Indonesia is known as the world's second-largest producer of plastic waste, and plastic pollution in the country is expected to continue increasing. The beverage industry in Indonesia is one of the fastest-growing sectors, contributing significantly to the rising volume of plastic waste, which has reached 490 thousand tons per year. Therefore, a comprehensive solution is needed to address this plastic waste crisis. One approach that can be taken by the Government and Local Governments throughout Indonesia is to promote a circular economy practice consisting of 5Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbish, and Renew. In a qualitative study conducted by the Population Research Center of BRIN and BPS in 2022, the issues of plastic waste in the Gorontalo Province and the policies undertaken by the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, and the community have been documented. This article will descriptively present the practices of plastic waste management in the Gorontalo Province, along with various obstacles and challenges. The research results indicate that a specific pattern of cooperation and collaboration between the Local Government, NGOs, and local businesses with extensive networks is necessary to drive a plastic waste-based circular economy in Gorontalo. Transforming the plastic waste disaster into an economically prosperous opportunity is not impossible with sufficient green literacy, political will, and genuine commitment from all parties involved.