Caring for Plastic Waste, Participants of an Event at IPB Must Bring Tumblers and Bamboo Straws
The trash found in the sea is very diverse. Lately, viral photos have sprung up from various social media accounts of marine conservationists which show that there are many marine biota trapped by garbage in the sea. For example, the presence of net trash ensnares the turtle which leads to the limitation of the turtle's movement. The presence of pipe pieces that accidentally cover the mouths of dolphins can cause the dolphins not to be able to open their mouths to eat and to do other things.
The phenomenon of plastic waste in the sea became the main focus delivered at the Water Festival (FA) 2018. The FA 2018 was a mega event held by the Student Association of Water Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University (Himasper FPIK IPB) at Andi Hakim Nasution Building, IPB Dramaga Campus (4/10). The series of FA 2018 activities included national seminar, seminar of expedition results from the Atlantik of Himasper IPB, scientific writing workshop and public speaking workshop, and expo.
"Trash is bad. Its presence on the coast even at sea does not have any aesthetic at all. Surely the presence of plastic waste comes from the land which empties into the sea. The main victims of the explosion of garbage in the sea are the biota that live there," said the keynote speaker who is one of the lecturers from the Department of Aquatic Resources Management (MSP FPIK IPB), Dr. Ir. Fredinan Yulianda, M.Sc.
Meanwhile, according to the President of Indonesia Solid Waste Association, Ir. Sri Bebassari, M.Sc, the role of government and organizations in the field of conservation is quite large in the management of marine waste. However, the agency engaged in the industry sector also has a large share in the management of this waste. "This is because the industry is able to process waste that still has selling value to be transformed into something more useful," she said.
This FA 2018 event carried the concept of "Less Plastic" which had a uniqueness that was rarely found in most such events. This uniqueness could be seen from the concept of "Less Plastic" where all the activities were held without the presence of plastic. Participants contributed in an effort to reduce the use of plastic by buying a bamboo straw as a substitute for plastic straws.
"The FA 2018 has a hashtag, namely #LessPlasticIsFantastic. The committee's efforts to echo the hashtag is by creating a unique concept that has been triggered well in advance, namely negating all plastic materials that are usually used in an event. For example, the seminar participants had been advised to bring their own tumblers to be refilled by the committee instead of bringing a plastic bottle. The foods provided also do not use any plastic packaging," said the Chair of Event Division of the FA 2018, Adela Shofirma. (AD/ZSP/Zul)
