REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- West Java's Bogor city administration has decided to ban the use of plastic bags by shopping centers. The program to be started on December 1.

"We start from 1 December after socialization in two or three months," Bogor city Mayor Bima Arya said on the sidelines of Our Ocean Conference (OOC) 2018 ending here on Tuesday.

Arya said the targets of socialization include communities, schools, community organizations, and certainly retailers. The first reaction from the people is in question about sanctions and alternative to plastic bags, he said.

"At last it is just alright. Actually retailers are happy with the regulation as they no longer need to provide plastic bags. The buyers have to come along with the bags they need for the goods they want to buy," he said.

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The problem so far is the plastic replacement available being too expensive, he said, adding he would look for the alternatives. Plastic bags are already been banned in a number of other cities like Banjarmasin and Balikpapan in Kalimantan. Denpasar will follow banning the use of plastic bags in January, 2019.

Waste Management Director at the Directorate General of Waste Management and Dangerous Toxic Substance of the Environment and Forestry Ministry Novrizal Tahar said the Central Government supports the initiatives of the regional administrations to control plastic garbage. Tahar said incentives would be given to regions helping coping with garbage by banning the use of plastic bags especially disposable plastic bags.

Meanwhile world's Environment Ministers are gathering here to attend the 4th Inter-govermental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (IGR-4) starting on Wednesday.

Delegations from some 89 countries with around 400 government officials will attend the two-day meeting held every five years, Indonesian Environment Minister Siti said on Tuesday.

The main agenda of IGR4 are review of the implementation of Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in 2012-2017 period as a mandate of the Manila Declaration, drafting policy for GPA in the period of 2018-2022 and working program of GPA of 2018-2022 period to be carried out through Coordination Office.

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