Jakarta, May 22 -- Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has expressed support for regional regulations banning single-use plastics.

"We stand behind them to support the policies of regional governments in the context of reducing and handling plastics," he said at the commemoration of International Biodiversity Day in Jakarta on Thursday.

Regulations to limit the use of single-use plastics are very important to prevent waste from ending up at landfills, he explained.

Bali has implemented a ban on single-use plastics, he noted.

Similar regulations have also been applied in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, which prohibit the use of bottled water and plastic in a number of areas to encourage sustainable tourism.

"We will not hesitat...