Understanding Local Efforts to Change Generational Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Plastic Pollution and Waste Management in West Bali, Indonesia: A Case Study on Plastic Free Bali
Faculty Mentor
Soenke Biermann
Major/Area of Research
Environmental Conservation, Social Sciences
Description
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that affects every corner of the world, from megacities like Berlin and Shanghai, to the world’s beaches like those on the Colombian Caribbean. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) states that half of all plastic produced today is designed for single-use purposes i.e. to be used once and then “thrown away.” Plastics and the carcinogenic sub- stances they are made of threaten all living creatures and Earth systems, but plastic use and pollution is only expected to increase in the coming decades. When it comes to changing the way we consume and dispose of single-use plastic materials, action oriented community-based organizations are often the leaders of anti-plastic movements. This transdisciplinary qualitative case study explores how one such community-led initiative, Plastic Free Bali, an organization under Yayasan Biosfir Indonesia, is working to combat plastic pollution in West Bali, Indonesia. Dedicated to changing local attitudes and behaviors regarding single- use plastic consumption and waste disposal, the organization’s approach involves a combination of education, vocational training, and the government- funded building of waste management infrastructure on the village level. Data collection took place over the course of a three-month internship at the organization from September to November 2023 and consisted of structured and semi- structured interviews, door-to-door surveys in local neighborhoods, archival re- search, and participant observation. Four key themes emerged from the data. The first relates to the role of education and infrastructure in combating plastic pollution, which encompasses empowering women leaders. The second involves the connection between religion and culture and the fight against plastic pollution. The third examines tourism as a means to motivate behavior change, and finally, the fourth highlights the benefits of working with the government and other NGOs to achieve long lasting change around plastic use and pollution.
Understanding Local Efforts to Change Generational Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Plastic Pollution and Waste Management in West Bali, Indonesia: A Case Study on Plastic Free Bali
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that affects every corner of the world, from megacities like Berlin and Shanghai, to the world’s beaches like those on the Colombian Caribbean. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) states that half of all plastic produced today is designed for single-use purposes i.e. to be used once and then “thrown away.” Plastics and the carcinogenic sub- stances they are made of threaten all living creatures and Earth systems, but plastic use and pollution is only expected to increase in the coming decades. When it comes to changing the way we consume and dispose of single-use plastic materials, action oriented community-based organizations are often the leaders of anti-plastic movements. This transdisciplinary qualitative case study explores how one such community-led initiative, Plastic Free Bali, an organization under Yayasan Biosfir Indonesia, is working to combat plastic pollution in West Bali, Indonesia. Dedicated to changing local attitudes and behaviors regarding single- use plastic consumption and waste disposal, the organization’s approach involves a combination of education, vocational training, and the government- funded building of waste management infrastructure on the village level. Data collection took place over the course of a three-month internship at the organization from September to November 2023 and consisted of structured and semi- structured interviews, door-to-door surveys in local neighborhoods, archival re- search, and participant observation. Four key themes emerged from the data. The first relates to the role of education and infrastructure in combating plastic pollution, which encompasses empowering women leaders. The second involves the connection between religion and culture and the fight against plastic pollution. The third examines tourism as a means to motivate behavior change, and finally, the fourth highlights the benefits of working with the government and other NGOs to achieve long lasting change around plastic use and pollution.