SeaCleaners' Mobula8 to Clean Floating Waste in Bali Waters

TheIndonesia.co - The SeaCleaners and the Indonesian Waste Entrepreneurs Association (APSI) signed a deal to join forces against the proliferation of floating plastic waste in rivers and seas in Indonesia, Bali in particular. The SeaCleaners and APSI signed a founding partner at the beginning of 2022 towards the development of an effective waste management sector in Indonesia.

APSI (Asosiasi Pengusaha Sampah Indonesia) is one of the leading waste recycling trade associations in Indonesia. It currently has 268 member companies, the majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in waste management and recycling in major cities and provinces of Indonesia.

Putu Ivan Yunatana, chairman of APSI Bali Nusra, stated, “Ocean waste has become everyone’s responsibility especially for Balinese people, who believe in the purity of the ocean. That’s why we are welcoming this cooperation as our members are very much ready to support this project."

APSI thinks this project is an opportunity and will become the first role model for managing ocean waste in Bali which will be supported by the local’s government and the people. "I hope this project is just the start of our long-term cooperation as this moment would be the beginning of other upcoming projects in the future between The Sea Cleaners and APSI at the bigger scope.”

APSI is a very dynamic organization that aims to accelerate the massive development of the waste management sector in Indonesia, with a focus on SMEs and independent entrepreneurs. It will represent 2000 members in 2024. The association is thus establishing itself as one of the key players in the transition to a green, virtuous and circular economy in Indonesia, a country that is one of the five most affected by the ravages of plastic pollution and where there are still many open and uncontrolled waste dumps.

For The SeaCleaners, the Memorandum of Understanding signed with APSI on January 17, 2022, marks a major step forward in consolidating the implementation of its operations in Indonesia, under the leadership of its operational division headed by Eric le Plomb and its representative in Indonesia, Priska Widyastuti. The SeaCleaners will mobilize the Mobula 8, the multipurpose de-polluting boat.

At the signature of the agreement which was held virtually, Yvan Bourgnon, President and Founder of The SeaCleaners explained the partnership represents a leap forward for operations in Indonesia. "We cannot conceive of intervening without being surrounded by actors on the ground who count and who know precisely where the needs are, where the challenges are, and where the difficulties are. It is through this exchange that we can be truly effective and have a beneficial, visible, and measurable impact," he said.

The collaborative project concerns the collection and management of floating solid waste in the region of Bali, particularly in its eastern part, which is very concerned by this scourge due to the presence of numerous rivers carrying large quantities of garbage, including the Waduk Tukad Badung, located near a mangrove conservation area, the Sungai Tukad Badung, the Abang or the Karangasem Regency.

From the first quarter of 2022, the Mobula 8, operated by The SeaCleaners, will collect floating waste in the identified rivers as well as in the coastal area. The waste will be landed at several points in Bali and managed by local companies and associations members of APSI as well as by local authorities. In addition to this collection and clean-up action, The SeaCleaners and APSI will collaborate in the management of waste on land, by setting up sorting, recycling, and treatment activities.

At the same time, in keeping with its scientific mission, The SeaCleaners will provide APSI with data on the characterization of waste and the location of areas where pollution slicks accumulate.

Another important aspect of the partnership is that APSI will help The SeaCleaners to establish contacts with local actors, associations or institutions, and local authorities likely to help implement appropriate solutions to combat pollution by solid waste on land or at sea. Networking is essential to operate effectively in this transcontinental country, the world’s largest archipelago.