The Utilization of Plastic Bottle Waste as Payment for Public Buses in Surabaya, Indonesia
Suroboyo Bus, launched by Surabaya City's local government in 2018, is a public transportation mode that allows passengers to pay using plastic bottle waste instead of electronic payment. This initiative aims to encourage individuals to utilize public transit by providing adequate transportation networks, as well as to raise public awareness of the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) actions.
Implementation Period
Start 2018
Ongoing
Ongoing
Location (town/city)
Surabaya
Stakeholders and Partners
1. Department of Transportation Surabaya
2. Department of Sanitation and Landscape Surabaya
3. Directorate General of State Assets Management Surabaya
Themes
- Waste reduction
- Consumer behavioural changes
- Circular economy and 9Rs1
- Collection and Transport
- Awareness and sensitization
How this initiative contributes to zero waste.
Plastic waste becomes a resource that can be spent on public transportation, preventing it from being improperly disposed. The policy successfully converts something formerly discarded into something of value and promotes a circular economy.
How this initiative contributes to the relevant SDGs associated targets.
- Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure The Suroboyo bus project is consistent with SDG 9, particularly in terms of providing inclusive and sustainable infrastructure, also fostering innovation. The use of plastic bottle waste for public payment is an example of public transportation innovation to support the creation of resilient public transportation networks and facilities. This government strategy will also promote urban mobility and improve accessibility.
- Goal 11 – Sustainable City and Communities Suroboyo Bus also follows SDG 11's goal of creating sustainable cities and communities. The availability of adequate and inclusive public transportation and its supporting facilities will encourage individuals to use public transit rather than private vehicles. Reduced usage of private vehicles will result in less traffic congestion and pollution. Furthermore, the provided incentives for utilizing plastic bottle trash will also encourage the public to sort their garbage and raise environmental awareness.
- Goal 14 – Life below water It is envisaged that improving public awareness of the environment through collecting plastic bottle trash would minimize community activity in dumping garbage into rivers, which will lead to a waste buildup in the seas and damage aquatic ecosystems. In other words, this project is also relevant to SDG 14 in terms of conserving marine resources. Referring to the explanation above, this project has effectively addressed multiple SDGs, and will significantly contribute to the national scale if this project continues to be maintained, improved, and replicated in other cities in Indonesia.
As the capital city of East Java Province and the second largest metropolitan city in Indonesia with 2.88 million citizens, Surabaya faces several urban issues. In 2017, the city produced 2,166 tons of rubbish per day and 19.4% of which is plastic waste (Nadhifah, N.V, Juliardi, N.R, 2022). The government has difficulty controlling urban waste on the downstream side where environmental awareness is poor and individuals are unwilling to sort their rubbish and discard trash into the river which leads to a decline in environmental quality.
The lack of public desire for using public transportation is also another prominent urban issue in the city. The forecasted mode share of commuter trips, estimated in 2018, explains that only 10.88 people use public transport in Surabaya while the rest prefer using private vehicles. This tendency will result in additional issues like traffic congestion and automobile pollution if the government does not treat it seriously (Herijanto W, 2018).
Therefore, the Surabaya government has been eager to deal with these two problems by initiating a project called Suroboyo Bus in 2018. The initiative has 2 main objectives, which are encouraging people to use public transportation by providing adequate transportation networks and facilities as well as campaigning for the action of 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) to increase public awareness of the environment through the provision of payment options using plastic bottle waste.
The lack of public desire for using public transportation is also another prominent urban issue in the city. The forecasted mode share of commuter trips, estimated in 2018, explains that only 10.88 people use public transport in Surabaya while the rest prefer using private vehicles. This tendency will result in additional issues like traffic congestion and automobile pollution if the government does not treat it seriously (Herijanto W, 2018).
Therefore, the Surabaya government has been eager to deal with these two problems by initiating a project called Suroboyo Bus in 2018. The initiative has 2 main objectives, which are encouraging people to use public transportation by providing adequate transportation networks and facilities as well as campaigning for the action of 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) to increase public awareness of the environment through the provision of payment options using plastic bottle waste.
Actions and Implementation
Operated since 2018, the Surobuyo bus project has carried out many project developments and improvements to increase the service quality, in terms of payment methods, mechanisms, and service routes. A more detailed explanation is as follows:
Payment methods
The payment innovation using plastic bottle waste which is the highlight of the project is carried out with the provisions: to get 1 travel ticket, passengers must exchange it for 3 large bottles (1500ml) or 5 medium bottles (600ml), or 10 small bottles (300ml) or 10 small cups (240ml) of plastic bottle waste.
The payment innovation using plastic bottle waste which is the highlight of the project is carried out with the provisions: to get 1 travel ticket, passengers must exchange it for 3 large bottles (1500ml) or 5 medium bottles (600ml), or 10 small bottles (300ml) or 10 small cups (240ml) of plastic bottle waste.
When it began operations in 2018, the only payment method available was plastic bottle waste exchange, which could be completed on the bus before departure. Recently, additional payment options are available for passengers, such as using electronic cards, QRIS, or accumulating member points in the GOBIS application (Rp.5000/ trip or USD 0.33/ trip)
Plastic Bottle Exchange Mechanisms
At the first implementation of the projects, passengers exchange the bottle waste inside the bus before the departure and they will get the tickets by the assistant. However, As the number of bus users has increased and to avoid the accumulation of waste on the buses, since May 2022 the Surabaya government has decided to abolish waste exchange transactions on buses. Instead, the government has prepared waste exchange posts scattered along the Suroboyo bus route, as shown in the image below.
At the first implementation of the projects, passengers exchange the bottle waste inside the bus before the departure and they will get the tickets by the assistant. However, As the number of bus users has increased and to avoid the accumulation of waste on the buses, since May 2022 the Surabaya government has decided to abolish waste exchange transactions on buses. Instead, the government has prepared waste exchange posts scattered along the Suroboyo bus route, as shown in the image below.
Passengers are required to exchange their waste at the exchange post, then they will get a travel ticket voucher, or they can collect digital member points in the GOBIS application.
Service Routes
Currently, there are 3 bus service routes that accept payments with plastic bottles: Kenpark-Gunung Anyar, Rajawali-Purabaya Terminal, and UNESA-ITS.
Currently, there are 3 bus service routes that accept payments with plastic bottles: Kenpark-Gunung Anyar, Rajawali-Purabaya Terminal, and UNESA-ITS.
Waste Management
The collected waste will be auctioned off and managed by a waste management company and will be considered a source of regional income.
The collected waste will be auctioned off and managed by a waste management company and will be considered a source of regional income.
Outcomes and Impacts
Data released by the Surabaya government in November 2020 showed a trend of increasing the number of Suroboyo bus passengers in 2018-2019 before the number plunged due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The head of the Department of Transportation Surabaya, Tundjung Iswandaru, stated that 60 percent of passengers prefer using plastic bottles while the remaining 40 percent of users pay using electronic money (Jawapos, 2022).
In addition, the head of the Department of Sanitation and Landscape Surabaya also revealed that in the period of April 2018 until January 2019,39, tons of waste bottles worth 150 million rupiahs have been collected. (Kompas, 2019).
The head of the Department of Transportation Surabaya, Tundjung Iswandaru, stated that 60 percent of passengers prefer using plastic bottles while the remaining 40 percent of users pay using electronic money (Jawapos, 2022).
In addition, the head of the Department of Sanitation and Landscape Surabaya also revealed that in the period of April 2018 until January 2019,39, tons of waste bottles worth 150 million rupiahs have been collected. (Kompas, 2019).
Replicability and Scalability
The Surabaya Bus project is one of the best practices in Indonesia which can address two urban issues at once, issues related to public transportation and waste management, specifically in Surabaya Indonesia which can potentially be applied and implemented in other places with some considerations, as follows:
Because the project is not profit-oriented, the project requires an amount of investment and maintenance costs. Therefore, the government must be able to bear the financial burden of the project.
To modify people's habits, proper infrastructure must be complemented by education and community engagement.
Because the project is not profit-oriented, the project requires an amount of investment and maintenance costs. Therefore, the government must be able to bear the financial burden of the project.
To modify people's habits, proper infrastructure must be complemented by education and community engagement.
Inclusive and Innovative
Focusing on public transportation (buses) impacts all levels of the community. Paying for bus fare with plastic waste is a more inclusive payment method for common people. It helps to encourage more ridership on public transportation.
Accountability and sustainability
The practice is overseen by the local transport authorities. The practices has contributed to increased ridership on public buses, which suggests it can be sustainable in the long term.
Budget and Resources Allocation
The budget of the project is from the local revenues and expenditures budget of the Surabaya Government.
In the year of 2023, the Department of Transportation would receive IDR 78 billion (USD 5,2 million) for the Suroboyo Bus Project under the 2023 General Policy on Budget and Priority of the Temporary Budget Ceiling (KUA PPAS). An increase of IDR 8 billion over last year(2022). (jawapos, 2022)
In the year of 2023, the Department of Transportation would receive IDR 78 billion (USD 5,2 million) for the Suroboyo Bus Project under the 2023 General Policy on Budget and Priority of the Temporary Budget Ceiling (KUA PPAS). An increase of IDR 8 billion over last year(2022). (jawapos, 2022)
Key Implementer Information
Further Information and Media
Sustainable Development Goals
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