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Massive piles of plastic waste have been accumulating in the waters of Bandung / ˈbɑn duŋ /, the third largest city in Indonesia.
The West Java Environmental Protection Agency said that huge amounts of plastic bottles and other plastic packaging have been blocking rivers and canals in the city. The rapid increase in the country’s plastic waste is presumably due to Indonesia’s continuous economic growth. This growth entails changes in people’s lifestyles, such as an increase in the consumption of goods that produce plastic. However, the country’s government is unable to keep up with the increasing amount of waste.
As an immediate solution to the growing waste problem, the agency sought the help of the Indonesian army. The government deployed soldiers who used nets to remove waste from Bandung’s river. However, the move was ineffective because more plastic waste kept getting washed into the river.
In addition to the cleaning operations involving the military, Bandung’s city officials also encouraged residents to collect plastic waste and bring them to authorities for sorting. Residents who comply can receive some money depending on the amount of plastic waste they bring. Some even segregate plastics into different types because doing so will let them earn more money.
Meanwhile, Bandung is not the only area in Indonesia that is struggling with plastic pollution. Last year, local officials declared a “garbage emergency” in the famous tourist spot, Bali. They sent out 35 trucks and 700 people who were able to collect roughly 100 tons of plastic waste from the beaches.