A video showing trash floating in the waters off of Bali’s Klungkung regency is widely circulating this week, depicting what isn’t an uncommon sight on the island around the same time the governor declared the province’s waste issue an emergency.
In a 23-second clip, garbage is seen strewn across the water near Kusamba Port. The scene is not exactly unusual, as anyone who’s lived or been to Bali would have come across littered beaches and sea.
Even so, the fairly simple clip going viral might indicate better awareness among Indonesians on the waste issue, especially when it comes to littering.
“Netizens don’t have to blame the central or regional government. It’s better we do some introspection,” one user wrote.
On Monday, Bali Governor Wayan Koster declared that Bali is facing a “waste emergency,” subsequently ordering regional officials to implement waste management programs to combat the problem.
According to Permana Yudiarso, who heads the Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL) in Denpasar, at least half of the waste that goes into the waters around Bali comes from the island itself, while the rest comes from surrounding islands.
