Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing challenges facing our oceans today. Work with Earthwatch scientists to combat this global problem by testing the effectiveness of a community-based recycling solution in the village of Les in Bali, Indonesia.
Bali is a hotspot for marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the heart of the Coral Triangle, known for its iconic rice paddies, scenic beaches, and stunning coral reefs. However, this thriving volcanic island is being threatened by an urgent global problem: marine plastic pollution. Anywhere from 10-27 billion pounds of plastic waste enters the oceans from coastal regions each year. Indonesia is particularly struck by this crisis, as they have become the second largest contributor of plastic debris globally, largely driven by lack of access to waste management infrastructure.
You will work with experienced Earthwatch researchers and staff to measure the effectiveness of a community-based waste management strategy recently implemented in Bali by Plastic Collective. In this program a Shruder (portable recycling machine) is installed in the village. With it comes a comprehensive training program to teach the community to identify and sort plastics. Then, plastic wastes can be shredded down to be sold to recyclers more efficiently, or melted and transformed into new products for the community’s use. By surveying pollution along transects in public places where these waste management systems are available and comparing it to the amount of waste found in areas that lack this system, you can help researchers determine how effective the system is at reducing the amount of plastic pollution entering the environment. Robust scientific evidence of how small, portable recycling solutions can reduce plastic waste will allow greater uptake of these types of solutions.
Join us in a remote and relatively untouched area of Bali to experience the Balinese village of Les, while aiding researchers in combatting one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. With your help, scientists can collect data that contribute to waste management policy and decision-making across the region, and eventually help turn the tide on the plastics in our oceans.