In a recent Antara News report, Australia's Consul-General to Bali, Dr Helena Studdert, brought together a variety of specialists and motivated groups to discuss the island's growing waste management problems and how to best address them.

As Bali's visitor arrivals increase so to does the urgency to find solutions.

"Millions of tourists, including Australians, come every year and contribute to the waste problem in Bali, so we feel responsible for finding solutions," Studdert, the former Ambassador to Serbia, said.

Tourism is a major contributor to the trash concern but it also holds the keys to many of the answers. Studdert believes there are several ways hotels can help, for example inviting them to apply a concept of "zero waste." The technology is out there it just requires the political will to do something about it and actually make a difference.

The seminar received the full support of Bali's Governor, Made Mangku Pastika who acknowledges the fact that waste management is one of the most critical issues facing Bali today. He also said environmental issues will also be discussed in the forthcoming IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting.

Pastika expressed his hope the Consulate General's initiative would shine a spotlight on the problems and that could bring the relevant agencies together including the Office of the Environment, the Office of Public Works and the Office of Marine and Fisheries.  "The sea is also our concern, because a lot of garbage is also dumped into the sea," said Pastika.

Source: Antara News

Similar to this:

Does a new governor mean a new direction for Bali?

Minister suggests tourism and property industries to support each other

Tourism and property potential in NTT