Not many things in Jakarta are priced as low as Rp 200 – that is, until the government decided to charge people Rp 200 for every plastic shopping bag they used starting on Sunday.
Many have been skeptical that the price would change people’s shopping habits, with some people pointing out that paying for plastic bags now is a convenient way to get rid of loose change.
It’s a belief held by the Jakarta Provincial Government and Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who ridiculed the nominal price tag with his trademark wit.
“In Jakarta we even have to pay Rp 2,000 to pee [in some public toilets]. If we charge Rp 200 for a plastic bag, that means nothing to Jakartans,” Ahok said, as quoted by Vivanews yesterday.
“I think Rp 1,000, Rp 2,000, or Rp 5,000 [for a plastic bag] will have more impact.”
The Provincial Government actually has plans to make supermarkets and minimarkets charge up to Rp 5,000 per plastic bag. But they must first wait for the Environment and Forestry Ministry to evaluate the effectiveness of the current Rp 200 per plastic bag policy in the capital.
