Policy Pathways for Microplastics Regulation and Public Health Protection: Insights From Indonesia and California

ABSTRACT

The rising use of plastic and its harm on individual and public health through microplastic pollution in food and water is a growing concern. Although Indonesia maintains general and hazardous waste regulations, it lacks targeted legal measures for microplastic management. This study applies a normative juridical method to analyze Indonesia's regulatory framework and compares it with California's comprehensive microplastic strategy to assess legal adequacy and identify regulatory gaps. Findings indicate key deficiencies in Indonesia: absence of microplastic specific prohibitions across critical sectors (including tobacco related sources), limited enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and insufficient monitoring and public education. In contrast, California has enacted detailed product, established statewide monitoring standards, integrated Low Impact Development (LID) for runoff control, upgraded wastewater treatment requirements, increase public awareness, and research initiatives. Based on these results, this paper recommends that Indonesia needs to: strengthen EPR through clear incentives and penalties; expand microplastic specific bans; incorporate LID into spatial planning; enhance wastewater treatment plants for microplastic removal; and enhance environmental education curricula. Empowering multi stakeholder platform, such as National Plastic Action Partnership, with expert led research and data driven thresholds which will support effective policy and better protect public health from microplastic pollution.