LETTER FROM LOMBOK
by Barbara Lucas Cahyadi

A couple of issues ago, I wrote about the problems of tackling rubbish on developing islands in Indonesia. Although to some it may be an insurmountable problem or even “someone else’s problem”, to Delphine Robbe and the Gili Eco Trust it is their problem and they are doing something about it!

The Gili Eco Trust was set up in 2002 to work in coordination with SATGAS (the Gili Islands local administration) for the conservation and protection of the Gili Islands.

Since its inception, the Trust has implemented many programmes including rehabilitation of the reefs around the Gili Islands, education and fishing agreements with local fishermen, clean up programmes both in the ocean and on the beaches, education for local school children and ecology projects that involve local university students, and more. 

One major concern is the mounting problem of rubbish and waste management on the popular island of Gili Trawangan. Gili T, as it is known, is the most popular of the three Gilis and each year attracts tens of thousands of visitors to its clean white beaches, pristine waters and coral reefs teaming with tropical fish. Such an influx of visitors inevitably creates an influx of rubbish: more plastic water bottles, cans, plastic bags and other products of the consumer age than any small tropical island can handle.

Under the initiative of Delphine Robbe, Chairman of the Gili Eco Trust and dedicated ecologist, the Trust has now focussed on 2010 as being the year for getting the rubbish situation on Gili T under control.

Working together with the FMPL (the local organisation which collects rubbish on the island) and residents on the island, the Eco Trust is working on programmes to sort rubbish into organic and non-organic waste, to develop recycling programmes where appropriate, and to educate the local people in awareness and rubbish management.

During 2009 the Trust implemented successful “Clean Up Days” and, with the start of 2010, regular “Clean Up Days” will be held on the first Friday of every month. On Clean Up Day, local people, residents and tourists join together to clean up the village, beachfronts and waters of Gili T. Most of the dive shops on the island support the project, so those wanting to join in can visit any dive centre to register. Volunteers are issued with rubbish bags and gloves, and then join the teams collecting rubbish. Divers collecting rubbish qualify for a free dive in the afternoon, where they also collect rubbish, such as plastic bags and bottles, from the ocean.

Thanks to the Trust’s efforts, many businesses on Gili T are already sorting their rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable waste and local people are now collecting bottles and cans and selling them to businesses on Lombok, who then send the products to Surabaya to be recycled.

The Trust also conducts workshops to teach local people and staff in the island’s businesses how to sort their rubbish. Many people don’t yet understand the difference between organic and non-organic waste and are unable to tell if a tea bag is organic or not, so education is the key to success for the project.

Once trained, businesses and local people will be encouraged to set up composting heaps on the island to turn their organic waste into fertiliser – providing much needed nutrients to the island’s sandy soil. Several businesses have already set up compost heaps to fertilise their gardens, including Trawangan Dive, Big Bubble, Karma Kayak and Eco Villa. A compost centre will also be established at the island’s rubbish dump and be managed by local people, who can then sell the compost fertiliser and generate additional income.

The Eco Trust has negotiated with local manufacturer Maspion to make rubbish bins to make it easier to sort rubbish. It is estimated that at least 1600 bins are needed and the Trust is seeking sponsorship to purchase the bins and to fund the local training programmes.

The Trust also hopes to ban plastic bags on the island and replace plastic bags with “Eco Bags”. Made from recycled plastic and cotton, these bags are available by donation from the Trust.

Small islands have limited resources and the Gili Eco Trust is setting programmes in place now to support the viability of the Gilis into the future. If you can help with support or donations to fund Eco Trust projects, please visit their website: www.giliecotrust.com