Community Integration of Solar-Powered Rubbish

Units in Tourism-Dependent Economies

Natalie Koski-Karell

UC Hastings College of the Law / Vermont Law School

23 September 2015

Introduction

Exploring the viability of tech-based WM solutions through a discussion of Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) in the context of Bali, Indonesia.

Rapid rate of development during tourism boom cycles creates WM & other environmental challenges in emerging markets; sustainability is essential.

(Hypothetical) case study for SIDS, tourist hubs, and any community facing a failing municipal WM system.

Road Map

Outlining the current issues. Illuminating the context. Identifying key stakeholders and their roles. Describing an ideal ISWM. Hypothetical implementation of tech solution. Critique: lack of accountability and cooperation on

behalf of powerful stakeholders + misdirected institutional funding mechanisms.

The Problems

Tourism + “banana leaf” mentality + lack of ISWM system/infrastructure = Bali’s well-documented, inorganic “trash problem”

Lack of ISWM + inconsistent government supervision + misguided consumer pressure = short-term, “race-to-bottom” WM practices among tourism stakeholders

Disregard for long-term, sustainable solutions echoes Indonesian economic and environmental policy. No such thing as environmental mainstreaming

Huffington Post

New York Times

Surfer Mag

The Band-Aid: Incinerator Bali built an incinerator to convert trash from its

largest landfill, Suwung, to electrical power using Galfad.

Subsidized with carbon credits through Kyoto’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Only producing 700 KW of power from rubbish tip (target

= 9.8 MW) Built to manage up to 800 tons a day from 4 towns

Suwung is growing at 2,500-3,000 tons of rubbish each day.

The Strategy - ISWM Principles of ISWM solutions

High environmental performance Economically viable Socially acceptable Technically appropriate

Proposal – Participatory ISWM to combat illegal commercial waste dumping in tourist-heavy, developing regions + one tech alternative to rubbish collection (solar-powered waste compactors)

The Method

Holistic approach. Participatory action research: interviews with

community-based WM services. Consciously working counter to traditional

undervaluing of local culture and philosophy.

Bali’s Philosophy & Culture Tri Hita Karana: “three causes of prosperity/happiness”

Harmony among people, nature/environment, and God/gods Distinct from Indonesian core philosophy which has no

environment component

Bali Sustainable Development Strategy considers culture to be basic building block for sustainable development in Bali. Customary disdain for features of natural world that are

uncontrollable

Cultivate ISWM in popular consciousness through regional philosophy.

Tourism & The Environment $1.4 trillion industry, 1.1 billion travelers in 2014

4th among worldwide export sectors, 30% of global services trade

Investment in Indonesia’s tourism sector consists of 90% foreign investment. Ministry of Tourism focuses on growth, not sustainability or

environmental protection

8% foreign investment ($10.4 million) went to Bali in first quarter of 2014. Plus $5 billion annual revenue from tourism 200,000 Balinese still live in poverty; no ISWM program

The ISWM Stakeholders

The Government (National/Regional/Local) The Tourist/Consumer The Hotel (and foreign investors) The Waste Pickers The Locals The Village-Scale Programs

The Tourist

Bali, home to 4.2 million, attracted 3.27 million tourists in 2013.

Consumptive patterns in one-off experiences are inherently unsustainable. Concern for poor = increase in consumption paradox

Tourists from developed countries produce up to 2 kg/person/day of solid waste. Waste generated per hotel room is over 10x the amount of

waste generated per day per capita in Bali

Tourism & The Culture of Waste

Estimated 18% of total waste generated in southwestern part of Bali comes from tourism industry.

Hotels and other businesses in Bali are paying locals to dump and burn trash illegally.

75% of Bali’s trash is left uncollected, ending up in he ocean, rivers, rice paddies, mangroves, ravines, etc.

The Hotel At one point, 20 large hotels were sorting waste on-site. Cronyism between hotel chains and the tourism ministry.

Lack of environmental mainstreaming in regulatory framework Bust periods mean “going green” falls to wayside

Most hotels in Bali’s tourist hubs have failed to embrace ISWM. Sustainability is not a prioritized topic in hospitality training or

hotel-wide goals Race-to-bottom: cheapest disposal wins Failure by upper management & foreign investors/owners to

enforce proper SWM and engage in ISWM

Harnessing Consumer Power

Tourists are in position to target culprits. Investigate their hotels’ involvement with SWM

Simple as writing a negative review to impact business Choose hotels that engage in sustainable practices

Point of entry education on the current problem and how they can participate in preserving Bali’s beauty

The Village-Scale Programs

Roughly 24 loosely connected network of community-oriented WM (primarily recycling) programs. Bali Fokus, ecoBali, Bali Recyling, Keep Bali Beautiful, Project Clean

Uluwatu Community-based, low cost, decentralized approach Educating local residents to separate waste and compost Upcycling: waste has value

High financial barrier to apply for carbon credits through CDM. Difficulty in scaling: easy to hide/dispose of waste illegally with

little to no govn’t enforcement; perception that not cost-effective.

Ideal ISWM: A sustainable, scalable system.

Under pressure from and with participation by tourists and investor/owners,

hotels and businesses catering to tourism embrace ISWM, the regional/local government actively enforces it, and village-scale programs collaborate with waste picker cooperatives to optimize every piece of rubbish in Bali. What about the technology component?

Tech Solutions from Private Sector

Solutions should prioritize cradle-to-cradle design, local innovation, or an adaptable alternative.

BigBelly™ solar-powered, public waste compactors are tech-based, low-maintenance, and highly efficient (70-90%). 30-watt solar panel, off-grid solar battery powers

internal 1,250 compactor Minimal learning curve Uses cloud-based alert system (CLEAN) Information can be accessed via mobile app

Viability in Tourist Hub Context Should not replace resource management.

Waste should be reduced first and foremost Used for light rubbish disposal only Recyclables to be up-cycled or sold by waste pickers Organic waste to compost/pig feed

Strategic placement. Developed, low- to medium-density tourist areas Rural areas where maintenance need is low

Ease-of-use and fondness for tech/renewables will improve WM habits among tourists and locals alike

Cost is a concern ($4,000 each). No substantial data on success in developing regions.

Stakeholder Cooperation Facilitate a consultative process with key

stakeholders (in the public and private sectors). Ensure their active participation and influence in the

development of public policies for sustainable tourism development. Set sustainability goals at each step of operation Mobilized effort among SWM stakeholders to

incorporate tech could provide the needed funding

Stakeholder Cooperation: Embracing ISWM & “Sustainable” Tourism

Easy looking green, not as easy being green. Conduct CBA for ISWM to encourage stakeholder involvement

Quantify waste volumes, identify sources and destinations to manage: waste audit Data from BigBelly collection frequency will pinpoint

waste stream flow Consult Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism

Destinations Guidebook Integrate SWM in hotel mgmt: e.g. biodegradable materials

and robust recycling

International / Institutional Implications

Int’l pressure to strengthen national & regional regulatory framework.

Int’l orgs should be prioritizing institutional funding for community-based programs. Kyoto CDM carbon credits are effectively

funding incinerators, discouraging ISWM Incorporate sustainability (& ISWM) in

resort/hotel development. Should be the global, industry standard