Indonesia is following Thailand’s lead by banning environmentally damaging plastic items such as bags, styrofoam & straws on its most popular tourist island, Bali.
The ban on plastic items in Bali was announced by the island’s Provincial Government on 21 December and administered on the same day with a six-month grace period for local businesses, Straits Times reported.
As part of the ban, disposable single-use plastics such as bags, styrofoam and plastic straws, are no longer welcome on the island. KARRYON contacted Wonderful Indonesia, the country’s tourism leaders, to learn how the new rule will be governed.
Image: Ishan @seefromthesky/Unsplash
Bali Governor Wayan Koster told media that the aim of the initiative is to reduce marine plastic waste by 70 percent within a year. He also hopes it will maintain the harmony and balance out Bali’s ecosystem.
He continued, saying that a special team made up of regional staff, non-government agencies and entrepreneurs, has been established to educate locals and business owners on using environmentally friendly alternatives.
Image: Artem Bali/Unsplash
“We gave producers, businesses, and suppliers of disposable plastic products to adjust their business plans after the decree was made effective,” 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.”
Wayan Koster, Bali Governor
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