Bali Fights Back Against Plastic

Bali's Plastic Predicament

Bali is actively working to clean up its oceans, focusing on plastic waste. The island has an opportunity to tackle this problem by integrating sustainable practices into the tourism experience. As a top global destination, tourists are likely to adopt local customs and practices, especially when eco-friendly systems are in place.

By promoting alternatives to single-use plastics and enhancing waste management infrastructure, Bali can become a model for sustainable tourism. As a priority tourism destination, it is at the forefront of Indonesia's efforts to promote eco-friendly travel.

With increasing national attention on its environmental impact, there is a growing push for policies and partnerships that reduce plastic waste. This will ensure that Bali remains a leader in sustainable tourism while preserving its natural beauty for future generations.

The Bali Provincial Government has progressively developed various strategies and policies to implement sustainable tourism practices. These policies include efforts to reduce single-use plastic waste and protect lakes, springs, rivers, and the sea. Additionally, Bali is actively engaging in educational campaigns through various media channels such as television, radio, and online platforms.

To further reduce plastic waste, several trash racks have been installed to collect debris from rivers near estuaries, preventing plastic from reaching the ocean. The government is also collaborating with the recycling industry to promote the recycling of plastic waste.

Littering poses a significant challenge for waste management in Indonesia. Combating this issue requires efforts to raise public awareness from an early age, highlighting that the type of waste produced today differs from that of previous generations.

The likelihood of plastic waste entering the sea increases if it is disposed of in water bodies, rivers, or drainage channels. Waste thrown on land or yards can also reach water bodies due to wind and runoff.

In 2021, a study revealed that Indonesia is the world's fifth-largest contributor to marine waste. According to the World Bank, plastic leakage into the ocean from Indonesia ranges from 201,000 to 552,300 tonnes per year, with much of this waste transported through rivers.

Plastic waste enters river systems either through natural transport mechanisms or direct discharge due to inadequate waste management and poor community behaviour. Once plastic enters rivers, various hydrological factors, such as water level, flow velocity, and discharge, affect its transport. It is widely believed that all plastic found in rivers eventually ends up in the ocean; however, 99 percent of plastic pollution is never seen floating in seawater and is therefore considered "lost." Another study indicates that much of this plastic sinks beneath the water's surface.

A model to predict plastics pollution in Indonesia

With its large population and extensive coastlines, Indonesia faces a significant challenge in managing plastic waste. As a result, it is one of the world’s top contributors to marine plastic pollution. Four rivers—the Brantas, Citarum, Solo, and Progo—rank among the 20 most polluted rivers globally, acting as major pathways for plastic leakage.

By 2021, Indonesia was the sixth-largest source of marine plastic pollution, with an estimated 56,333 tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean through rivers yearly. Addressing this critical issue requires an adaptable model to predict pollution patterns, identify hotspots, and guide targeted solutions. One effective method for tracking the production, use, and disposal of materials is called Material Flow Analysis. This method helps estimate the volume of plastic waste generated, the proportion that is mismanaged, and the likelihood of leakage into the environment.

Material Flow Analysis takes into account factors such as population density, which affects waste generation, as well as the effectiveness of waste management infrastructure, including collection services, landfills, and recycling systems. By examining practices like recycling rates and landfill capacities, this analysis identifies regions most vulnerable to plastic leakage. It provides a crucial baseline for understanding plastic waste dynamics and pinpointing hotspots that require immediate attention.

In recent years, Indonesia has generated approximately 10 million tonnes of plastic waste. The scale of the waste management problem is staggering; only around 40 percent of the population has access to waste collection services, resulting in a significant amount of waste being either uncollected or mismanaged. Communities without proper disposal options often dump waste into rivers or drains. While urban areas generally have better waste management systems, rural regions frequently rely on open dumping, burning, or direct disposal into waterways.

Material Flow Analysis of Plastic Waste in Indonesia 

Java and Sumatra are the primary contributors to plastic leakage due to their dense populations and strained waste management infrastructure. In contrast, rural areas in Eastern Indonesia face additional challenges stemming from inadequate waste collection systems.

While Eastern Indonesia is less populated, it still grapples with similar issues caused by a lack of formal waste management processes. Early findings suggest that over 42 percent of plastic waste is incinerated, and more than 13 percent is directly dumped into the environment and waterways. By identifying the sources of plastic debris and assessing the current state of plastic leakage in Indonesia, we aim to align with the national goal of reducing marine plastic debris by 70 percent by 2025.

Plastic waste can reach waterways and the ocean through several mechanisms. Rainwater runoff often carries plastic waste from streets and dumps into rivers, and seasonal flooding can mobilize large volumes of accumulated waste, exacerbating the problem. Wind can also transport lightweight plastics, such as bags and wrappers, from open dumps into nearby water bodies. In areas that lack proper waste collection, rivers frequently become dumping sites, further polluting aquatic ecosystems and ultimately affecting marine environments. Hydrological data, including river flow and sedimentation patterns, can help refine predictions of plastic accumulation and movement within rivers.

According to an analysis of the plastic waste flow model, water runoff has the potential to transport approximately 0.31 million tonnes of plastic waste to rivers each year. This figure represents around 53 percent of the total plastic that is illegally dumped in terrestrial environments in Indonesia.

Modelling plastic waste flows in Indonesia presents significant challenges due to inconsistent data, particularly in regions with limited or unreliable waste management records. These inconsistencies arise from variations in reporting standards, local practices, and the need to rely on assumptions to fill gaps in incomplete or outdated information.

To overcome these challenges, thorough validation processes are essential, including comparisons between model predictions, field measurements, and historical data. Making iterative adjustments will enhance the model's accuracy and reliability, leading to a better understanding of how plastics move from their sources to rivers and beyond.