Indonesia is one the of world’s most beautiful archipelagos. With its sandy beaches, steaming volcanoes, and exotic wildlife, it is truly a traveler’s paradise. The tourism industry is growing by leaps and bounds, stimulating the Indonesian economy and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Unfortunately, Indonesia’s tourism industry is facing a difficult challenge right now - how to protect and conserve the natural scenic beauty that attracts tourists to Indonesia in the first place. What foreign tourist wants to come to Bali, the “Island of the Gods”, only to find beaches strewn with trash – or to visit the crater lakes of Mount Kelimutu and be confronted with rubbish? Tourists have a right to complain. Littering not only creates an eyesore, but spreads dirt and disease. Since nearly all litter ends up in the ocean, it is far more damaging than most people realize. This is not a problem confined to tourist areas, but an international problem that is hurting our planet.
Indonesians are now beginning to recognize the severity of the situation. Four Javanese rivers (Brantas, Progo, Solo, and Serayu) have been listed among the top 20 plastic-polluted waterways of the world, with single-use plastic cited as one of the root causes. In 2015 Indonesia was named one of the largest polluters of plastic marine waste in the world, second only to China. Thousands of sea animals are killed every year by becoming trapped in plastic bags or swallowing them.
One need go no further than our hometown of Salatiga to recognize that we are facing a critical problem. Whenever we take a morning walk, we are confronted with litter:
Unfortunately, Indonesia’s tourism industry is facing a difficult challenge right now - how to protect and conserve the natural scenic beauty that attracts tourists to Indonesia in the first place. What foreign tourist wants to come to Bali, the “Island of the Gods”, only to find beaches strewn with trash – or to visit the crater lakes of Mount Kelimutu and be confronted with rubbish? Tourists have a right to complain. Littering not only creates an eyesore, but spreads dirt and disease. Since nearly all litter ends up in the ocean, it is far more damaging than most people realize. This is not a problem confined to tourist areas, but an international problem that is hurting our planet.
Indonesians are now beginning to recognize the severity of the situation. Four Javanese rivers (Brantas, Progo, Solo, and Serayu) have been listed among the top 20 plastic-polluted waterways of the world, with single-use plastic cited as one of the root causes. In 2015 Indonesia was named one of the largest polluters of plastic marine waste in the world, second only to China. Thousands of sea animals are killed every year by becoming trapped in plastic bags or swallowing them.
One need go no further than our hometown of Salatiga to recognize that we are facing a critical problem. Whenever we take a morning walk, we are confronted with litter:
Littering must be viewed as a crime against the environment. Changing the mindset of the people on this issue is vital, not only for attracting tourists but for maintaining the health of the nation and our world.
As it is now, without adequate waste removal systems, any wayside garden or empty field is considered fair game and becomes a convenient dumping ground for those passing by. Some land owners have even had to post signs to prevent it.
As it is now, without adequate waste removal systems, any wayside garden or empty field is considered fair game and becomes a convenient dumping ground for those passing by. Some land owners have even had to post signs to prevent it.
Many simply burn the trash as they find it, creating an even bigger problem. Burning leaves is one thing, but burning plastic sends toxic fumes into the air, and other small trees and plants are harmed in the process.
Improved garbage collection methods would help to solve the problem. When home owners hang sacks of garbage from their fences or gates, it is not only unsightly but attracts flies and rodents. Rubbish collectors provide daily pick-up services for a fee, but their carts are small. Sometimes they make the problem worse by dumping what they have collected in the most convenient location instead of taking it to approved waste management centers.
As a sign at our neighborhood mosque declares, “Cleanliness is everybody’s responsibility”. Trash cans, one for organic and another for non-organic matter, have been placed outside the mosque as well as across from a nearby public field. This is a good start, but to cope with the situation, much larger trash barrels are needed.
Anti-dumping and littering signs have also been posted in strategic places throughout the town to get the message across. This first one near the traffic lights of a main intersection reminds drivers that littering is shameful. Another one on a wall in our neighborhood declares, “Only monkeys throw garbage wherever they like.”
Signs are helpful, but far more needs to be done. An appropriate waste management system is essential, including a better system for the removal of rubbish and the recycling of plastics, paper, aluminum cans and glass.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, though! How can we prevent littering in the first place? Cleanliness should begin at home and be continually stressed in schools across the nation through formal and informal educational programs. Public anti-littering campaigns are crucial as well.
To make a real impact, though, all of us need to stop using products that are wasteful and destructive to the environment. Consider these five eco-friendly suggestions:
No matter where we live, we also need to encourage and support government and civic programs that promote a clean environment such as:
Finally, when it comes to thinking up clever and unique ways of promoting a clean environment, a theme park in France surely takes the prize. It has successfully trained six crows to pick up cigarette butts and rubbish in the park! Each time the crows deposit what they have collected in a box, they are rewarded with a tasty nugget of bird food.
Only if each of us does our part can we create a safer, healthier, and happier environment for Indonesia and the world!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, though! How can we prevent littering in the first place? Cleanliness should begin at home and be continually stressed in schools across the nation through formal and informal educational programs. Public anti-littering campaigns are crucial as well.
To make a real impact, though, all of us need to stop using products that are wasteful and destructive to the environment. Consider these five eco-friendly suggestions:
- Never use the single-use plastic bags provided by stores and supermarkets. Bring your own tote bags instead.
- Stop using plastic straws. If you cannot do without, switch to stainless steel straws which are far more attractive than plastic straws anyway.
- If you smoke, only buy cigarettes with biodegradable filters. Synthetic cigarette butts take decades to decompose, and as the plastics break down, they are consumed by wildlife, especially seabirds and sea turtles.
- Stop using single-use plastic and styrofoam cups and food containers. Buy reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and food containers to use instead.
- Choose only natural cleaning products which are friendly to the environment.
No matter where we live, we also need to encourage and support government and civic programs that promote a clean environment such as:
- The Jakarta City Council’s plan to procure environmentally friendly shopping bags to replace non-degradable types and to promote a campaign on the issue
- Thailand’s smoking ban on 20 popular tourist beaches
- Malaysia’s ban on plastic bags, polystyrene food packing, and plastic straws
- Singapore’s stringent enforcement of laws against littering, and
- The worldwide social action program called World Cleanup Day, which is designed to help combat the global problem of solid waste, including marine debris
Finally, when it comes to thinking up clever and unique ways of promoting a clean environment, a theme park in France surely takes the prize. It has successfully trained six crows to pick up cigarette butts and rubbish in the park! Each time the crows deposit what they have collected in a box, they are rewarded with a tasty nugget of bird food.
Only if each of us does our part can we create a safer, healthier, and happier environment for Indonesia and the world!