Countdown to the reopening of Mount Rinjani National Park. As planned, the National Park will reopen on April 3, 2025. All preparations are underway including the "Rinjani Zero Waste" program.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in Sembalun Village, the Mount Rinjani National Park Management invited all climbing organizers and stakeholders to socialize this program including what items are no longer allowed to be brought to Mount Rinjani.
The Rinjani Zero Waste program is expected to be a solution to reduce waste in the Mount Rinjani area which has been complained about by various parties. The following are items that are planned to be prohibited from being brought to Mount Rinjani.
1. Bottled Drinking Water
Plastic bottles from drinking water packaging are one of the types of waste that are often left on Mount Rinjani by climbers. Its nature which is difficult to decompose is certainly very dangerous for the environment and disturbs the beauty of nature.
Starting from the opening of the climb this year, plastic bottles from bottled drinking water are no longer allowed to be brought climbing. As a solution, climbers must use bottles that can be reused and refilled. Water supplies for refilling money can be brought from the village using larger containers such as jerry cans.
Many trek organizers reject this policy, because they are worried that some guests will not be comfortable drinking water that is not packaged directly from the factory. The National Park considers this policy to be implemented and of course there will be an evaluation to find the best formula.
2. Primary instant noodle packaging
As one of the types of waste that is abundant on Mount Rinjani, primary instant noodle packaging will also be prohibited from being brought. Visitors are expected to re-package instant noodles using other containers that can be used repeatedly. Meanwhile, instant noodle seasoning packaging can still be brought up the mountain.
3. Canned drinks/food
Any form of drink or food with canned containers is also not allowed to be brought.
4. Stairoform
Any form of food wrapped in stairoform is not allowed to be brought to the mountain. Generally, instant noodles with stairofom containers are often brought by climbers and left on the mountain. Trairoform is a type of waste that cannot be broken down by the soil so it can really pollute the environment.
5. Bottled cooking oil
Just like bottled drinking water, cooking oil must also use bottles that can be used repeatedly.
6. Plastic packaging.
Various foods or equipment that have been wrapped in plastic, must use containers that can be used repeatedly. Starting from seasoning wrappers, margarine, coffee, tea and so on.
There are still many items that have the potential to be trash on Mount Rinjani, but it will be difficult to re-contain or replace the containers such as canned gas for cooking, soda, etc. The national park office will enter a list of items that cannot have their containers replaced into the eSampah application so that they are recorded so that they can be controlled and ensured that they are taken out again by climbers.
Although this program has many benefits for Rinjani, many trek organizers expect the Mount Rinjani National Park Office to consider a better solution, because this program will increase the burden of climbing costs and the weight of the goods that must be carried by porters. One suggestion is to assign officers at various climbing posts to ensure that climbers do not litter. In addition, trek organizers also suggest making a priority list of the most waste left by climbers on Mount Rinjani and solving the waste problem starting from the most waste first.
From the various inputs given, the Mount Rinjani National Park Office said that it would conduct further studies and would hold further discussions with stakeholders to get the best formula, however, trek organizers are expected to prepare themselves to adjust to the Rinjani Zero Waste program which will definitely be implemented starting on April 3, 2025.
