Garbage in Bali

Garbage in Bali

Kudos to Wahyoe Boediwardhana for his article Bali struggles
to deal with its mounting garbage published in The Jakarta Post
on Oct. 3, in the Surfing Bali section, page 18.

I would like to add some thoughts on the subject of waste
disposal in Bali, and in Indonesia generally.

Before any decrease is seen in the mounting garbage problem,
the awareness of the people must change on this vital issue. This
will only happen if those in the leadership positions begin to
speak out forcefully and with passion about cleaning up our
beautiful country.

Here in Bali, leadership begins with the President and her
fellow national politicians, then filters down to the governors
of Bali, to the village leaders, the head of the banjar
(subvillage community), to the priests, and the teachers in the
schools. These leaders must speak out about the situation --
failure to do so is tantamount to contributing to the problem.

Also, there needs to be strong legislation against littering
and the dumping of garbage and plastic refuse. There should be
force behind this legislation in terms of increasing fines for
not obeying the law, similar to what we see in Singapore. I have
even witnessed the government garbage truck dumping its noxious
load on the land across from my house rather than take it all the
way to the government land fill, and there was nothing I could do
about it.

We need a concerted and coordinated campaign in the media to
raise the consciousness of the people to "pit in", urging people
to use waste receptacles rather than the ditch by the side of the
road.

Finally, those of us who already love Bali enough that we
would not desecrate her with garbage must be doubly conscientious
about recycling, and we must never litter the streets with our
garbage.

JAMES TAYLOR
Ubud, Bali