The struggle to combat the use of plastic is being carried out simultaneously in several countries, including Indonesia. Since the ban on giving out plastic bags was announced, several business entities have started using alternative bags that are more environmentally friendly. But is that enough? This is because, statistically, 3.2 million tons of unmanaged plastic waste is recorded every year and around 1.29 million tons of this waste ends up in the sea.
Seeing this critical condition, EcoBali is trying to take concrete action. Founded in 2006, this private company focuses on sustainable waste management. Founded by Ketut Mertaadi (Director) and Paola Cannucciari (Program Manager), EcoBali was born out of their concern that the way plastic waste was handled was far from ideal. Usually, plastic waste is dumped in landfills (final disposal sites) or burned, giving rise to other problems, namely air pollution which disrupts the environment and human health. Apart from that, in other areas, residents often throw rubbish anywhere, because there is no waste transportation system in the area.
Eco Bali believes that the waste problem must start with more thorough waste sorting. The method is quite simple, namely sorting organic and non-organic waste. EcoBali customers can easily sort waste at home or business premises based on two types of color-based bins. Green bags are for paper waste, red are for plastic, glass and metal waste. Meanwhile, for organic waste, Eco Bali encourages people to manage it into compost at home with the compost bin that Eco Bali sells.
Successfully Managed Thousands of Tons of Waste
Since its founding, EcoBali has managed more than 5000 tons of waste. Every month, they receive and manage 1500 m3 of waste, and more than 50 tons of waste are recycled. In total, there are 35 people working at EcoBali, Urbaners! The division of their positions and duties ranges from education staff, waste bank staff, eco-product staff, to sorting staff who work at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
EcoBali not only provides non-organic waste collection services, but also other services such as a composting system made from recycled Tetra Pak cardboard packaging. This is done so that people can manage their own kitchen waste and turn it into compost. There are also consultation, training and training programs related to in-house waste management in business premises and hotels, waste banks in villages, and waste transportation services for events and beach clean-ups.
After the non-organic waste is collected, what does the EcoBali team do?
Eco Bali will take the waste to the MRF for re-sorting to ensure that all materials can be recycled. Then, it is sent to a recycling factory in East Java, while for residue or waste that cannot be recycled, such as metallized packaging, dirty tissues, and diapers, we send it to a legal landfill.
Several recycled materials, for example clear and colored PET bottles, plastic cups, detergent bottles, clear and colored plastic bags, paper, duplex, Tetra Pak drinking packaging, cans, and metal, are recycled into a series of eco-products such as 4-shopping bags in-1 Net Bag Set, Upcycle Glass, as well as roofs and coasters whose materials are made from recycled plastic layers and aluminum foil from Tetra Pak carton packaging.
Optimistic about achieving a zero waste lifestyle
So far, EcoBali has collaborated with various communities, NGOs, private agencies, and government institutions working in the environmental sector. Regarding waste banks, since the beginning of this year, EcoBali has collaborated with the Badung Regional Department of Environment and Hygiene (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan; DLHK) to establish waste banks in each banjar (a total of 33 banjars) in three villages: Tibubeneng, Munggu and Canggu. In the future, two more villages will be added in Mengwi District.
After working in the field of waste management for many years, how optimistic is EcoBali about the Balinese people's interest in moving towards a zero-waste environment? Eco Bali is very optimistic, especially now that the ban on single-use plastics such as plastic bags, plastic straws and styrofoam has been effectively implemented in supermarkets.
Non-plastic Waste Handling
Apart from plastic waste, another problem that is no less important is kitchen waste used for cooking or food. EcoBali also recommends composting your own waste at home in an easy way, because more than 60% of the waste produced by humans is organic. They offer a Home Composting System in the form of a compost bin made from recycled Tetra Pak cardboard packaging.
How to use it is easy: we just need to put the kitchen waste in, then cover it with soil to block the smell and straw for air circulation. After that, just repeat the process until the bin is full and within one to two months. As a result, compost will be formed which is useful for fertilizing plantations.
Of the many types of waste, according to EcoBali, the most dangerous waste is that which is not managed properly and ends up in natural habitats or the sea. In recent years, there have been many examples of plastic waste injuring or killing marine animals that consume it.
Other waste that is important to manage is B3 waste and medical waste. Therefore, EcoBali emphasizes the importance of infrastructure and facilities to manage waste in a responsible manner.
Apart from waste services, Eco Bali Recycling also assists 300 TPS3R, purchasing products from 200 Waste Banks, 56 informal sectors, more than 1,600 waste service customers and educational services for making organic fertilizer in people's homes.
It focuses on maximizing recycling, reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and promoting composting. Eco Bali guarantees disposal of remaining residue only in legal facilities. Eco Bali is a registered operation, and we comply with current national legislation on waste management under the Ministry of the Environment.
Regarding the efforts and achievements that Eco Bali has achieved, Site Operational Manager of Eco Bali Ni Made Dwi Septiantari explained that there was a reduction in waste of up to 70-80% through recycling and composting, more than 5,000 tons of waste were collected and processed.
For the general public who want to visit or want to learn about dealing with waste. This facility can be visited from 08.00 - 16.00 WITA (Central Indonesian Time) on Jl. Raya Padonan No. 312, Badung Regency, Bali. Or you can visit the website eco-bali.com
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