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Bali has officially banned single-use plastics, including plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam in a bid to reduce ocean plastic pollution.
The UN estimates that each year eight million tonnes of plastic leaks into the ocean, which they equate to dumping ‘a garbage truck of plastic every minute’.
In Bali, reports estimate that 240 tonnes of rubbish is produced in the South of the island alone, a quarter of which is generated by the tourism industry which sees 6.5 million tourists visiting the island each year.
Rubbish from hotels and villages in often dumped in rivers before being carried out to sea where it eventually returns to island’s beaches thanks to coastal tides and currents.
New laws coming into effect from July 2nd this year will see Bali ban single-use plastics such as plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam following a six-month transition period which ended last month.
The Indonesian government has set itself ambitious goals the policy in a bid to tackle the massive issue which is causing harm to Bali’s marine life. Within a year, it is aiming to decrease the amount of marine plastic surrounding the island by 70 percent.
Speaking to tribunnews as reported by the Jakarta Post, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said: “This policy is aimed at producers, distributors, suppliers and business actors, including individuals, to suppress the use of single-use plastics. They must substitute plastics with other materials.
Adding that administrative sanctions would be imposed on individuals breaking the terms of the ban, he said: “If they disobey, we will take action, like not extending their business permit.”
