Plastic Pollution On The Banda Islands Indonesia

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The journey to reach Banda Neira, one of the seven Banda Islands in Maluku, Indonesia, is a journey. For any traveller fortunate enough to have set foot here, they will surely tell you that this place is one of a kind. Rich in history, with volcanic mountains and spice plantations, this dot in the ocean is a must-see destination.

Island life here is pretty special. From the friendly people to the breathtaking panorama at sunset, this sleepy fishing town draws tourists from around the world.

But there is a problem; plastic.

Plastic Pollution

Given the remote location, you might think the island would be pristine and perhaps free from the pollution that most tourist hubs are burdened with. Sadly, this is not the case.

A significant local population resides on the islands, Banda Neira being the most populous and the most visited. Then you have the tourists who visit during the two high seasons throughout the year.

Every day, single-use plastic waste is relied on and discarded in the local environment. Aside from plastic packaging such as water bottles, bags, and food packets, there is general household waste, industrial waste, and rubbish from the fishing industry and local boats.

Introducing Luminocean

Luminocean is working collaboratively on the land with the local community to bring change to an island that has minimal access to services such as education, waste management and community health. Supported by a German Non-Profit Organisation called BandaSea, the projects carried out here are inspirational.

This is carried out in the form of beach and ocean clean-ups, diving and swimming training for local students, building plastic-free school programs, and offering alternative solutions for dumping plastic waste in the oceans.

The cleaning projects help keep the beach clean, safe and healthy for the local community, which relies heavily on the fishing and tourism industry that Banda Neira provides.

Creating change and shifting perceptions is challenging, and working with what can be a seemingly overwhelming problem, such as single-use plastic, can be exhausting.

A big thank you personally to Maga (Chairman of Luminocean Foundation) and Mareike (Director of Luminocean) for all that you continue to do.

Beach Clean-Up Projects

The plastic rubbish, which makes its way into the ocean, eventually partly washes up on the shore, leaving a not-so-nice sight.

Collecting trash from the beachfront is not light work, but the team are incredible at what they do!

Help is always needed to keep multiple areas of the island free from rubbish.

Picking up plastic each time you visit any beach area is a beautiful way to contribute to keeping the environment clean and safe.

Ocean Clean-Up Projects

Like the beach, cleaning the ocean is an important part of the work!

Using a small local boat, a few fishing nets, and willpower, trash is picked up off the ocean's surface.

The waste is taken to a collection facility or the island's local waste dump for sorting.

No matter where it comes from, we are all collectively responsible for doing better and making positive changes for the community.

Plastic-Free Schools Project

Everything starts with education. A vital part of making progress comes from the youngest members of the community, who are ready to learn and embrace change.

The education on plastic waste, the ocean, the environment and the importance of sustainability is taught in the classroom in the hope that the children will take their passion and knowledge back home and share it with their families.

Recycling, art projects, plastic-free classrooms, gardening and learning to swim are some wonderful and important elements of education projects.

Volunteers can also assist in the classroom by teaching students English as a second language.

A Sustainable Solution

What can we do about plastic waste? Where will it all go?

This is a complex issue that Luminocean and BandaSEA are working on and continuing to see the light regarding a sustainable and manageable solution.

The latest project consists of an effort to extend the waste pickup system across to Banda Besar. This is a mountainous and rugged area of the island known for its nutmeg plantations and numerous local villages located on this stretch of the island.

The plan is to build a small storage space where the sorted plastic can be collected until the team can bring it over to Banda Neira.

This project will receive a shredder to support the recycling efforts and additional help from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Indonesia. All plastic collected from Neira and Banda Besar will go to the storage area near the airport on Neira.

This is where a local team is tirelessly sorting the plastic into two groups. One group is suitable for pyrolysis (a common technique for converting plastic waste into energy), and the other group will be shipped to Surabaya for recycling.

More than one hundred sacks weighing 40 kg each of shredded plastic are already waiting for transport to Surabaya! There is a massive need for this project to develop a reliable solution to the plastic problem.

Of course, the effort within the local community to educate everyone on the damage single-use plastic causes to the ocean will continue - but in the meantime, we still require a working alternative.

Plastic-Free Travel Items

It is important that anyone who travels to these islands does so with as little impact on the environment as possible. A few sustainable travel items can greatly impact the amount of single-use plastic we need for our trip.

Reusable Water Bottle: If there is one item you need to bring with you to avoid all those single-use plastic bottles, it’s a travel-friendly reusable water bottle. Most hotels or guesthouses have refillable drinking water, so you can save money and help the environment. Alternatively, you can bring a water filter straw that can remove harmful bacteria from tap water as needed.

Reusable Coffee Cup:

Everyone loves takeaway coffee either at the airport or on the road, but the waste generated from single-use coffee cups is immense, and much of it ends up in the ocean. Using an eco cup is a great way to minimise this issue when you travel. A reusable coffee cup is an affordable and simple solution to a big problem. Oh, and the biodegradable cups aren't much better unless they are disposed of correctly, so it's best to avoid them no matter how eco-friendly they seem.

Plastic-Free Shampoo & Body Bar: There is no need to carry bottles of toiletries and worry if they will leak in your bag. Try these eco-friendly shampoo bars and body bars that are affordable and convenient. Shampoo bars also come without single-use plastic and can easily be packed into your bag by using a travel tin or mesh soap bag.

Toothpaste & Toothbrush: One of the most commonly found plastic waste items on the beach are toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes. Swapping to a plastic-free alternative is easy and inexpensive. Check out these travel-friendly toothpaste powders, and don’t forget to pack a bamboo toothbrush.

Reusable Cutlery & Straw: We all know the problem with plastic straws and takeaway cutlery, but it might surprise you just how much of an issue they are on the island. Street food is a huge generator of plastic waste, but it can be minimised if you BYO. Travel cutlery sets are ideal for backpacking, and a reusable straw is perfect for sipping coconuts. Imagine the waste we can save by not using plastic cutlery for only a short time whilst eating our take away food! With so many alternatives, it is one of the best swaps we can make.

Reusable Eco Bags: If you are heading out to explore the island you will likely pick up some items. That is why eco-friendly and reusable snack bags are a must-have travel item. Bring them with you when you go to the local market or grocery store. Single-use plastic bags do not disappear and cause significant harm to our oceans so reusable bags are a great alternative. They also double as toiletry bags, jewellery bags, or for packing healthy snacks for the flight.

Scuba Diving In Banda Neira

If you want to explore the beautiful reefs and discover more about why Banda is so impressive, I highly recommend checking out Dive Bluemotion. They offer a range of scuba diving courses and day trips with a team of experienced and highlight qualified dive guides and instructors. Visit the website here.

Final Thoughts

This part of Indonesia is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The distance from the mainland takes you far away from the typical tourist hot spots to a remarkable place where you can embrace the slower pace of life.

While plastic pollution is an ongoing problem we can be part of the solution.

If you are passionate about ocean conservation, I am sure you will not regret a visit to Banda Neira.