East Java’s ‘Plastic Farmers’ Burn Plastic for Heat, Still Clueless About the Smoke

In East Java, a quirky niche has taken root: farmers who toss plastic waste into open flames to generate heat for their rice paddles. The practice has been going on for decades, turning trash into a makeshift fuel source.

What the farmers don’t seem to realize is that the billowing smoke carries chemicals that can harm their health. Reports suggest that many locals are unaware of these dangers, continuing the tradition without a clear picture of the long‑term consequences.

Health officials have warned that inhaling the fumes from burning plastic is not a harmless side effect of crop cultivation. While the practice persists, the community’s lungs are left to bear the unseen cost of this smoky shortcut.