Pantai Project

Abstract

For the past years large quantities of plastic waste have been accumulating on the beaches in Southwest Bali. This has economical, environmental and health implications in this area. This event mainly occurs between December to March.
The objective of this report is to map the plastic waste problem in Southwest Bali and look for efficient solutions to mitigate plastic washing ashore at its beaches. To reach this objective the main drivers for the plastic waste accumulation are investigated. Furthermore, research on the distribution and composition is provided. The local waste management system and its shortcomings are assessed. Personal waste treatment is analyzed using a survey.
Background information on the problem was gathered with the use of a literature study and area analysis. A conceptual model is introduced to reach the research objective. This conceptual model is a schematization, in order to better understand the research area and the behavior of the plastic in the case area. In order to quantify the model further research is required. This consist of four research disciplines. Namely, ocean, boundaries and bottom; river measurements; beach measurements and waste management & social studies.
Via literature studies and interviews, research on the ocean, boundaries and bottom is performed. Three rivers where measured over the course of 2 months. Research was done to determine river parameters. Plastics were caught by a manta trawl and visual waste counting was performed to understand the plastic flux in rivers. Research on the beaches was done on the composition and quantity of various plastic sources namely oceanic, terrestrial and river inputs. Via interviews with local stakeholders the waste management system the case area is mapped. With the use of a survey, personal awareness and motivation among plastic pollution is analyzed.
The plastic accumulation is largely dependent on the climate and local waste treatment. As waste management facilities are lacking and local awareness and motivation is limited, large quantities of plastic enter local rivers. Together with increased rain conditions large quantities of plastic end up in the ocean. Wind then transports plastic waste towards the beaches. This debris is mainly 'pushed' towards the beaches in Southwest Bali due to the coastal shape. During the research single use plastics are found to be the most common plastic type.
Four solutions are proposed to reduce the plastic accumulation in the beaches of Southwest Bali. Intercepting plastics in rivers prevents further dispersion into the ocean and thus limits plastics accumulating on the beaches. Improved waste management could tackle the source of plastics pollution and reduce the amount of plastics entering our nature. Increased education on plastic pollution can result in improved personal waste management, especially in remote areas. As a lot of stakeholders are involved in the problem an improved communication network is desired in order to achieve a combined goal and work more efficiently.