As island nations face increasing marine plastic waste issues, Indonesia and Taiwan are strengthening their green and sustainable cooperation. From November 18 to 20, Taiwan Tech hosted the “Plastic Waste Management Workshop”, inviting 12 experts from Indonesia’s industry, government, and academia for presentations and discussions. The workshop focused on the latest technologies and trends in plastic waste reduction, management, and recycling while exploring potential avenues for deeper bilateral collaboration.

The “Plastic Waste Management Workshop” was held from November 18 to 20 by the Taiwan-Indonesia Science and Technology Innovation Center at Taiwan Tech. Front row, from left to right: Professor Wawa, Deputy Director of the Taiwan-Indonesia Science and Technology Innovation Center; Dr. Joddy Arya Laksmono, Director of the Polymer Technology Center at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency; Taiwan Tech Vice President Jhy-Chern Liu; Director Ying-Ying Lai of the Resource Recycling Department, Ministry of Environment; Section Chief Jun-Rong Chen of the Resource Recycling Department, Ministry of Environment; and Section Chief You-Rong Huang of the Resource Recycling Department, Ministry of Environment.

The event was organized by the Taiwan-Indonesia Technology and Innovation Center at Taiwan Tech, bringing together experts from both Taiwan and Indonesia. Notable participants included Dr. Muhammad Reza Cordova, Chief Researcher at the Ocean Research Center of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); Dr. Joddy Arya Laksmono, Director of the Polymer Technology Center; Professor Hosta from Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) in Surabaya; researcher Evtriyandani from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry; and Dr. Maria, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Widya Mandala Catholic University.

Additionally, experts from Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment, including Director Ying-Ying Lai and Section Chief You-Rong Huang from the Resource Recycling Department, also participated in the discussions and shared their insights. During the event, participants not only attended lectures and forums at Taiwan Tech but also visited companies in Miaoli, such as Lichang and Jiean, to explore Taiwan’s advancements in plastic waste recycling and processing technologies.

Director Ying-Ying Lai of the Resource Recycling Department, Ministry of Environment, delivered the opening speech at the event.

Dr. Joddy Arya Laksmono, Director of the Polymer Technology Center at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), delivered a speech at the event.

The workshop covered topics such as “Circular Innovation Strategies” and “Plastic Recycling and Green Industry Policies”, attracting around 130 experts from Taiwan and around the world. It not only deepened the cooperation between Taiwan and Indonesia in plastic waste management but also highlighted both countries’ shared commitment to sustainable development. Director Ying-Ying Lai emphasized that Taiwan is dedicated to promoting resource recycling and the zero-waste goal. She expressed hope that through technology sharing and policy coordination, Taiwan and Indonesia could further strengthen bilateral cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges.

Professor Min-Chih Liao from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Taiwan Tech shared a presentation at the seminar on the topic: “Incorporating Plastic Materials into Road Engineering: Characteristics and Applications”.

In the speech, Dr. Joddy Arya Laksmono, Director of the Polymer Technology Center at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), highlighted that Indonesia and Taiwan will focus on sustainable practices, exploring practical methods for reducing plastic usage, and conducting in-depth discussions on the life cycle analysis of plastic waste and related environmental challenges.

Beyond academic exchanges, the event also included site visits to Li Tsang Plastics Co., Ltd. and Chieh An Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., where participants shared technical experiences. At Li Tsang Plastics Co., Ltd., Chairman Zhu-Lan Zheng, a Taiwan alumnus, provided a detailed introduction to the process of transforming PET plastics into clean, transparent microplastic particles through sorting, washing, and grinding, which are then used to produce items such as machine casings, household goods, and toys. The Indonesian delegation was deeply impressed by Taiwan’s plastic reduction policies, waste plastic management regulations, and recycling technologies, praising Taiwan’s advanced technological achievements. They expressed hopes to strengthen future cooperation in areas such as green technology transfer and New Southbound investment.

The expert delegation visited Li Tsang Plastics Co., Ltd. to gain an in-depth understanding of the process where post-recycled PET plastic is transformed into clean, transparent plastic particles through various procedures.

Chieh An Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd. introduced composite material waste separation technology, which processes industrial waste into recyclable materials.

The “Plastic Waste Management Workshop” not only fostered rich exchanges among Taiwan and Indonesia’s industry, government, and academia, but also deepened bilateral cooperation in the field of circular economy, opening new opportunities for both countries in plastic waste management and jointly advancing sustainable development in the Asia region.