Volunteers Battle the Clock to Collect 25 Tonnes of Waste in Under Six Days in Bali

Indonesia dumps 56,000 tonnes of waste into the oceans every year, according to the Sea Cleaners association. Poor waste management in Asian countries is responsible for 75% of the plastic accumulated in the world's oceans.

Bali, its beaches, its waste

Bali, its heavenly panoramas, its nature, its fine sandy beaches… and its waste which accumulates almost everywhere in the territory. This is the other face of Bali, the one that is not broadcast on social networks. Straws, cups, plastic bags and shoes pile up on the sand, obstructing the walks of onlookers.

Gary Bencheghib, founder of the NGO Sungai Watch, whose mission is “to protect and restore rivers” in Indonesia according to the official website, explained to the TF1 cameras that it was the first time that the situation was so serious, according to him. In just six days of cleaning, volunteers collected no less than 25 tons of waste.

A vision of horror that awakens consciences?

The urgency was in fact to recover as much waste as possible from the beach before the tide took hold of it and threw everything back into the sea. A complicated task, knowing that their accumulation reached a meter in height, according to the words of Gary Bencheghib. To understand this phenomenon, we need to look at the climate.

Indeed, during the monsoon (rainy season) which lasts in Bali from November to February, the tons of waste present in Java are carried by rivers and then sea tides before being deposited on the beaches of the southern slope. from Bali. A tourist interviewed by TF1, struck by this vision, says she is paying attention to her plastic consumption and her recycling methods from now on.

90 tonnes of waste per day

This is not the first time that Bali has faced pollution, with waste continuing to accumulate on the beaches and creating a sort of contrast with the postcard landscapes that so attract tourists. To curb these environmental problems, the island in Indonesia is taking initiatives.

A year ago, for example, the acting governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra jaya, announced that the tax imposed on tourists who wish to stay on the island will be 150,000 rupees (around €9) for “protect culture and environment”. To avoid queues once you arrive in the territory, fees must be paid online via a dedicated portal, “Love Bali”.

As an article from the NGO Sea Cleaners points out, Bali is one of the islands most affected by plastic pollution. The association relays figures from Sungai Watch, which states that “33,000 tonnes of plastic enter Bali's rivers every year, or around 90 tonnes per day”.