Recent reports have revealed that plastic waste from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, the US, and the UK is being used as fuel for tofu production in Indonesia. Factory owners and one environmental organization in East Java’s industrial area shared this troubling information, highlighting the potential health risks associated with burning imported plastics.
In Tropod, approximately 60 tofu factories combine plastic waste with wood and coconut shells to produce around 60 tonnes of tofu daily, much of which is distributed in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city. This tofu isn’t sold internationally.
“We use plastic because it’s cheap,” one anonymous factory owner mentioned, pointing out the economic incentive behind this practice. Despite Indonesia banning open burning of waste, it remains a widespread disposal method across the country.
At one factory in Tropod, there are towering heaps of foreign plastic waste, which include both general plastic and discarded rubber from local shoe manufacturers. Another factory owner noted that they burn imported plastics every two days, as it costs significantly less than wood. Truckloads can weigh up to 3 tons.
The Guardian’s investigation across five factories confirmed the daily burning of imported foreign waste, although the amount varied at each site. Indonesian Statistics Bureau data indicates that, on average, each Indonesian consumes about 8 kg of tofu annually. However, environmental organizations like Ecoton have expressed concerns over the environmental implications of these practices.
Dr. Daru Setyorini from Ecoton remarked that recyclable plastic isn’t typically available for industries like tofu production. She noted that plastic from affluent countries, particularly the US and Australia, is commonly found in the factories.
How Discarded Plastic Reaches Indonesia
Setyorini explained that much of the foreign plastic is linked to paper imports, with Indonesia importing around 3 million tonnes of scrap paper and cardboard annually. The largest exporters include the EU, the US, the UK, Australia, and Japan. Most shipments arrive at the country’s largest port, then dispersed to nearly twelve paper mills for recycling.
The Indonesian government has imposed a 2% pollution cap on paper imports, but enforcement is minimal, leading to contamination rates as high as 30%. Any unwanted plastic is either sold or handed over to brokers, with estimates suggesting that around 70 tonnes of plastic are burned in Tropod’s tofu factories weekly.
Following China’s 2018 waste import ban, Indonesia has emerged as a hub for global recycling, importing 260,000 tons of plastic waste in 2024 alone. Although a ban on plastic waste imports was enacted this year, activists argue it doesn’t solve the underlying issue of importing contaminated paper waste.
Three significant paper mills are reportedly responsible for supplying the imported plastic waste.
Health Risks from Tofu Microplastics
The acrid stench of burning plastic hangs heavily around the tofu factories in Tropod, yet workers appear unfazed. When questioned about health concerns, many shrugged it off, claiming they smoke and feel fine. Traditionally, wood served as the boiler fuel, but rising costs have driven factory owners to use plastic instead.
Factory owner Djoko highlighted that they’ve been turning to burning plastic for fuel for years, even sourcing the scrap from illegal dumps where foreign plastic is discarded. Experts caution that burning plastics in food production can lead to severe health risks, such as respiratory and chronic illnesses.
This past February, Ecoton tested tofu purchased from a local market in Tropod and found high levels of microplastics, ranging from 0.15mm to 1.76mm.
Researchers are still investigating the implications of microplastics on human health, but existing studies point to potential links with heart attacks, strokes, and other severe health issues. Toxic ash contamination is another concern, as it accumulates around tofu plants, infiltrating the food chain through local poultry.
A 2024 study indicated that free-range eggs collected near tofu plants exceeded daily dioxin levels by 48 times. Researchers also noted that dioxins could lead to developmental issues in children and reproductive problems in adults, including miscarriages.
Some factory owners have expressed an interest in safer fuel alternatives but worry about costs. One pointed out that switching back to wood would increase expenses sixfold, suggesting that government subsidies could help facilitate cleaner fuel usage.
Novlizal Tahar, the director of waste management at the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment, acknowledged the health risks involved and stated that efforts to enforce the import ban are in progress. Dr. Secholini raised concerns that the issue extends beyond this; she highlighted the broader problem of wealthy countries exporting waste to developing nations—a practice she characterized as “waste colonialism.”
