Bali's waste problems are no secret. A stroll along many of the southwest coast beaches from November to March when the annual west winds hit the island can be shocking proof of that, with as much as 100 tons of trash per day washed ashore.

The problem was so severe last November that the local government declared a "state of trash emergency" for the beaches in Jimbaran, Kuta and Seminyak.

But action is being taken.

In support of National Trash Concern Day 2018, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI) recently held a beach-clean-up activity on Seminyak beach with the support of hotels, merchants, surfers and other environmental care organisations in Bali.

Part of the "One Island One Voice" campaign initiated by the "Bye-Bye Plastic Bag" community, the clean up involved 8 districts, at 100 collection points and more than 25,000 people. 

According to local news wires participants on Seminyak beach collected some 250 kilograms of garbage in less than two hours.

CCAI has been involved in spearheading the Bali Beach Clean Up (BBCU) programme since 2007. It aims to reduce waste in Bali's coastal areas, strengthen Indonesia's tourism industry, support the success of the "Clean and Green Bali" initiative and to improve relationships with local communities.

They are seeing progress. CCAI have created 75 jobs dedicated to cleaning almost 10 kilometers of coastline every day and in so doing have transported more than 21 million kilograms of waste from Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, and Kedonganan. 

Corporate Affairs Executive of CCAI, Fatimah Zahra said after the event that "the issue of waste is all around us and of course there is still much we can do to create a positive impact on the environment. But today we are reminded that every effort is meaningful and we can all have a positive impact on our abilities to contribute."

Sources: Surya, The Jakarta Post

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