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The Plastic Problem: Plastic Pollution in Bali
Summary
This article examines the plastic waste crisis in Bali, Indonesia, which has some of the world's most polluted beaches and rivers due to rapid tourism growth and inadequate waste management. It documents the scale of the problem and explores community and governmental initiatives to reduce plastic pollution in this globally recognized tourist destination.
With the fourth highest population and an ever-growing rate of plastic consumption, Indonesia is the second largest plastic polluter in the world (McCarthy, 2018). The country, which has only had plastic since the latter half of the 20th century, has staggeringly high rates of plastic waste which becomes pollution due to various factors. This paper examines the factors that go into why the rates of plastic pollution are so high, what people know about it and what is being done to help combat the problem. The four main topics explored are: laws, disposal methods, education and tourism. The study uses interviews, firsthand observation and secondary literary sources to collect information. The findings reveal that laws do exist to regulate plastic pollution, but are not enforced; disposal is mainly burning, burying and dumping; most people are not educated on the topic of plastic pollution in schools and otherwise; and tourism does not affect the rates of plastic pollution much. It is also revealed that changes in all areas of study are imminent due to new regulations and laws that are currently being developed and implemented. Further study is suggested on these new laws in order to determine the future of Indonesia’s plastic problem.