Is Bali trashing tourism?

Is Bali trashing tourism?

Peter A. Bailey
Sanur, Bali

The population of Bali and its surrounding islands are running
a very real risk of doing what the Bali bombers and Indonesia's
ridiculous visa regulations have so far failed to achieve, and
that is putting an end to tourism. The problem is unsightly
litter, trash, garbage -- call it what you will -- at the water's
edge on the beaches and coastline of Bali. It comprises mostly
plastic food and drink packaging materials but can include almost
any item from sandals to very unpleasant disposable nappies and
sanitary wear.

The more sophisticated shoreline hotels in Bali have their
respective beaches cleared of such debris every day but even
these efforts fail to pick up the next day's deposits floating in
the sea just off the beach, where tourists are expected to swim,
dive and surf. Where there are no clean up efforts the high water
mark can be identified by a line of plastic trash intermingled
with the more natural and biodegradable items of flotsam and
jetsam.

Such eyesores are not confined to Bali and in reality are a
pan-Indonesian issue. They reach truly horrific proportions in
harbors such as Sunda Kelapa and Makassar which are on the
tourist circuit. Even the more remote surfer beaches such as
Laikey on Sumbawa get trashed annually when the local population
descends upon them at Lebaran.

Tourists do not like seeing trash anywhere, let alone in
places where they have paid good money to take a break. Ask any
surfer or diver in Bali -- they have particular insights to the
problem of trash in the sea and at the seashore. Apart from it
being unsightly, it not unnaturally begs the question: "If this
is what can be seen at the water's edge, what is there in the
water that cannot be seen?" And that's another story!

The core of the problem originates inland, far from the
tourist beaches. Individuals discard their trash wherever the
inclination takes them, as they walk or drive down the highways
and byways or whenever they gather together in any number for
ceremonies, sports events and the like.

The trash accumulates progressively in drains, ditches, sewers
and riverbeds until it rains and is carried eventually out to sea
to end up being washed up on the beaches and shoreline. This
cycle is repeated all over Indonesia and it seems highly likely
that some of what ends up in Bali has its origins in Java,
particularly Surabaya.

The inland origins of trash are complemented by commercial
cargo ships, fishing boats and ferries, whose crew and passengers
blaze their trails through the water with discarded water bottles
and plastic bags full of miscellaneous rubbish. Some ferries have
notices encouraging passengers not to throw trash overboard, but
to little effect. It can be seen floating in the water way
offshore of Bali.

So what's the answer to the problem? A total solution is
probably idealistic but a basic three step strategy could make
significant improvements. The authorities in Bali could start on
the proposed first and second steps but to be really effective
all three steps need to be implemented nationally.

The first step is to educate the population with a "Keep
Bali/Indonesia beautiful" type campaign communicated via TV and
other media, with the aim of encouraging people to take pride in
their environment and dispose of trash properly. Schools would
also provide forums for such educational initiatives and
religious establishments could possibly play a part.

The second step is making sure the population can dispose of
their trash properly by providing sensible bins that are emptied
regularly. It is noticeable that many of the bins that are
provided are too small and/or do not have lids to keep insects
out and prevent trash being blown about -- ferries in particular
are guilty of this. Singapore offers lessons as to what is really
required throughout Bali and every Indonesian town and city at
the very least.

The third step is to pass legislation to induce and/or force
manufacturers of food and drink packaging in particular to move
to biodegradable plastic as countries such as Germany have done.
This would at least ensure that plastic detritus breaks down and
disappears rather than lasting as an eyesore for tens of years or
more.

As many readers of this article will fear, there is little to
no chance of any of these steps being implemented. National
government has other priorities. A lack of resources will
probably preclude the first two steps of the proposed strategy
and the vested short term interests of the food and drink
packaging industry will ensure that no effective steps are taken
to implement the introduction of biodegradable plastic.

So in the meantime, all the tourist industry of Bali can do is
hope. Hope there are no more bomb outrages. Hope that tourist
visas are extended back to three months. And hope that someone,
somewhere, will do something about the problem of trash before it
becomes too late.

The author is a freelance writer residing in Bali.