In the City of Surabaya, restrictions on using single-use plastics have been regulated by Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2019. While waiting for the process of drafting the Mayor’s Regulation, on August 13, 2019, the Mayor of Surabaya issued Circular Letter number 660.1/7953/436.7.12/2019 concerning the Appeal to Ban the Use of Bags. Single-use plastic is aimed at retail entrepreneurs, restaurants, malls, supermarkets, and market managers. This Circular Letter from the Mayor of Surabaya is the basis for traditional markets to limit single-use plastic, especially plastic bags.

Single-use plastics widely used at Citraland Fresh Market Surabaya include plastic bags, cups, Styrofoam, plastic mica, and straws. From a survey conducted in August – September 2021, it was discovered that 84 kiosks used large plastic bags, reaching 964 pieces per day, and the use of small plastic bags in 125 kiosks went 3,005 pieces per day. Another fact from a survey is that many plastic straws are thrown away as trash but have yet to be used by buyers. The plastic straws in the trash are still neatly wrapped.

To reduce the use of single-use plastic in traditional markets, the Surabaya Zero Waste Community and the Indonesian Plastic Bag Diet Movement (GIDKP) implemented the Plastic Free Market Program. The program is implemented in Bogor, Banjarmasin, Bandung, Denpasar, and Surabaya. For Surabaya, the Plastic Free Market program is carried out at Citraland Fresh Market Surabaya. The activity was to prepare a plastic-free market SOP with traders and market managers. Apart from that, outreach is also carried out to visitors and traders. Citraland Fresh Market, the first exemplary plastic-free market in Surabaya, received support from the Surabaya City Environmental Service and market management. Traders and visitors to Citraland Fresh Market Surabaya also support plans to limit the use of single-use plastic. In this regard, the Plastic Free Market trial program at Citraland Fresh Market Surabaya will begin to be implemented on January 10, 2022. The plastic-free market trial at Citraland Fresh Market Surabaya is hoped to reduce single-use plastic, especially plastic bags. This program can be an example of an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic in traditional markets so that it can be replicated in other traditional markets in Surabaya.

On January 9, 2022, Zero Sampah Surabaya, together with Citraland management, launched the first Plastic Free Market in Surabaya, which was attended by the Mayor of Surabaya, Director of the Ciputra Group, Head of the Surabaya Environmental Service, Head of Sambikerep District, Head of Sambikerep Village, representatives of traders, and several communities who are in Surabaya. According to Wawan, the choice of Citraland Fresh Market as Surabaya’s first plastic bag-free pilot was very appropriate. This is because the management supports efforts to reduce plastic waste. In 2022, at least five markets will change, at least modeled on the market here. “Because here it is well organized, the traders are also prosperous,” said Mayor Eri. In fact, at that time, Eri also asked the Head of the Environmental Service to prepare regional regulations and regulations by the Plastic Bag Free Market immediately. Because so far, this has been a problem. At Perwali, so he asked for it to be made directly.