Indonesia’s island of Bali is leading the charge against single-use plastic by doing what it set out to do earlier this year – dispelling the environmentally hazardous material from its shores.
Bali’s leaders kicked off the New Year (1 January 2019) by revealing plans to make the island a single-use plastic-free zone and set out to do so within a six-month period.
And according to reports, it has!
The popular island is believed to have launched its ban against single-use plastics, which prevents supermarkets, convenience stores and shopping centres from using or supplying the material.
Gapura Bali, a local news source, reported that the ban went live on 23 June 2019 and now includes everyone from retailers to traditional markets, even those in villages.
Materials included in the ban are single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene.
According to Indonesia’s National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris the aim of the ban is to reduce Bali’s ocean plastics by 70 percent in five years.
Currently, the report claims that 48 percent of the island’s waste is managed responsibly, however, the rest of burned or left polluting the land, waterways and the ocean.
“33,000-tons of Bali’s plastic waste ends up in the ocean each year.”
Indonesia’s National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris
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