We Collected 300,000 Pounds of Plastic in 8 months!

Summary

For eight months, a dedicated team in Bali has been tirelessly working to clean up the island's polluted waterways. Through community cleanups and innovative barrier systems, they've managed to collect two tons of trash daily, separating organic and plastic waste for proper disposal. The initiative also involves data collection for brand auditing to hold corporations accountable for plastic pollution. With government collaboration and a mission to protect every river on Bali's west coast, the project aims to inspire local action and demonstrate effective waste management solutions.

Takeaways

• 🗑️ Bali's waterways are heavily polluted with trash, particularly plastic, which has never been cleaned up on a large scale before the described efforts.
• 🌊 The initiative started with community cleanups every Friday, attracting a large number of participants, indicating strong community involvement.
• 🛠️ Over the past year, the team tested various types of barriers to trap trash in the rivers, with a current count of nearly 50 barriers around the island.
• 🎯 The goal for the year is to increase the number of barriers to 100, aiming to better manage the trash in Bali's rivers.
• 🚮 The daily patrol teams collect trash from the barriers, which is then sorted at a facility, highlighting the ongoing nature of the cleanup efforts.
• 🔍 A significant focus is on data collection, including brand auditing of the collected trash, to identify and engage with companies responsible for plastic packaging.
• 🛒 The use of scanners to identify specific products helps in understanding the scale of plastic pollution and the brands contributing to it.
• 🏆 Collaboration with the government has been a milestone, with a 40-day mission to clean 10 rivers in South Bali, resulting in the collection of 57 tons of trash.
• 📹 The power of social media is demonstrated by the response to a video showing a heavily polluted canal, which led to immediate action by the team.
• 📍 The launch of the 'Tsunaija Line' allows anyone in Indonesia to report polluted rivers, showing an expansion in the initiative's reach and impact.
• 🌐 The initiative aims to protect rivers on the west coast of Bali and potentially expand to East Java, indicating a broader vision for combating plastic pollution.
• 💰 Sponsorship opportunities for barriers are available, allowing individuals or organizations to contribute financially to the cause.

Q & A

What has been the main focus of the group's efforts for the past eight months in Bali?

The group has been focused on cleaning up Bali's waterways, which have been severely affected by trash, particularly plastic pollution.

What was the initial starting point for the cleanup initiative?

The initiative started with the founder sorting trash in his parents' garage, which they were not fond of.

How often do the community cleanups take place and what is the typical turnout?

Community cleanups happen every single Friday, with turnouts ranging from 20 to 60 people, and sometimes up to 250 people per cleanup.

What is the goal for the number of barriers around Bali this year?

The goal for this year is to have 100 barriers around the island of Bali to help in the cleanup efforts.

What is the daily routine of the patrol teams regarding the barriers?

The patrol teams go out on the river every day from 7 a.m., visit each of the barriers, take photos before and after the cleanup, and separate the waste into organic and plastic categories.

What does the group do with the trash collected from the barriers?

The trash is sent to their facility where it is sorted by types of plastics and goes through an initial pre-sorting phase.

Why is data collection important in the context of this cleanup initiative?

Data collection is crucial for understanding the scale of the plastic pollution problem and for holding corporations accountable through brand auditing.

How does the group identify the brands responsible for the plastic waste they collect?

They use a scanner to perform brand auditing on the collected waste, which helps identify the companies responsible for the plastic packaging and products.

What was the outcome of the 40-day mission to clean 10 rivers in the region of Badung?

The 40-day mission resulted in the cleanup of 57 tons of trash with the help of 250 people, organized in teams of 25 throughout the region.

What is the significance of the 'Tsunaija Line' initiative mentioned in the script?

The 'Tsunaija Line' is an initiative that allows people from anywhere in Indonesia to send photos or videos of polluted rivers with a location pin, prompting the group to respond and potentially clean up the area.

How can individuals or organizations get involved in sponsoring a barrier?

Individuals or organizations can sponsor a barrier for about 3 million rupiah (around 215 US dollars), which covers the construction, maintenance, cleanup, and sorting costs for a year.