Tulodo appointed to evaluate Project STOP in response to global crisis of marine plastic pollution.

Tulodo and AECOM have been appointed by SYSTEMIQ to conduct a mid-term evaluation of Project STOP in Indonesia. Project STOP is a city partnership initiative to accelerate waste management solutions in Indonesia, working with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Project STOP partners with the local government authority to enable a transition in the waste management system (over an estimated 2-3 years), to a “zero leakage” system where all waste is collected and recycled or safely disposed. The mid-term evaluation is expected to provide evidence on the strengths and weaknesses of the program as well as recommendations that enable SYSTEMIQ to further improve support to its beneficiaries. 

Project STOP was developed by SYSTEMIQ and Borealis in response to the global crisis of marine plastic pollution. Indonesia is one of the 5 biggest contributors to global plastics pollution. Through designing, implementing and scaling of an integrated, low-cost waste management system, Project STOP is a pilot of a circular economy solution. The project engages with cities/districts identified as the areas with high-leakage of plastics into the ocean. Project STOP has four main objectives: zero leakage of waste into the environment; increase recycling of plastics; socio-economic benefits for local communities; and economic sustainability.

Project STOP is operational in three cities: Muncar, Banyuwangi (East Java), Pasuruan (East Java) and Jembrana (Bali) with funding from Borealis, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nova Chemicals, Nestle, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and Borouge, as strategic partners.  Schwarz, SWI, Veolia and HP are also supporting and technical partners. The project works in collaboration with both local and national governments including the Indonesia Ministry of Environmental and Forestry (MoEF), Banyuwangi Government, Pasuruan Government and Jembrana Government.

In 2018, the first project was launched in Muncar, Banyuwangi funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a three-year contract with a total budget of NOK 30,000,000 (USD3.4 million). Muncar was selected due to its urgency based on research showing that 43% of residents disposed of their waste into the ocean. Another criteria was strong leadership and commitment from the local government to tackle this issue. Project STOP has been running for 21 months and reports the following:

• 47,500 people now are served by waste collection (most for the first time);
• 3,000 tonnes of waste diverted to recycling or safe disposal system;
• 5,000 m2 of beach surface cleaned, collecting 76 tonnes of plastics;
• 80 full-time jobs have been created;
• Achieving low-cost waste system of $30/tonne for collection, sorting, recycling, organics processing and safe disposal; and
• Launched in three-high leakage cities.

The mid-term evaluation for Project STOP in Muncar has three main purposes. First, to assess the progress and impact made towards outcomes and outputs by the project according to the Result Framework and address challenges and make necessary adjustments to enable the project to achieve its intended impacts and objectives. Second, to provide accountability, both towards the donors as well as the main counterparts of the government of Banyuwangi and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Third, as a learning, to identify and document lessons learned and best practices from the project that can be used to improve it for the remaining period. An evaluation report with recommendations will be developed and disseminated to partners and stakeholders.