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