What is an Eco Surf Rescue?
With the project Eco Surf Rescue, Bali, we focus on sustainable waste management of several popular surf breaks in Bali to mitigate and reduce pollution and to stop land-based waste from getting into the oceans. Environmental catastrophes keep occurring because there is corruption, no clear policy for the enforcement of environmental problems and each regional administration can establish their own local regulations. Therefore, we developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the management and evaluation of an Eco Surf Rescue, with the focus on liquid- and solid waste. Areas with a river/creek association are chosen for an Eco Surf Rescue because these areas are especially in rainy season vulnerable to pollution due to the accumulated waste from elsewhere. Each project area will be provided with multiple double waste bins (organic- and non-organic), some will be provided with a composting area and we will provide signing materials to create awareness. Each week the waste will be collected from the project area for processing (separation, recycling). In addition, at some locations, we will replant and reforest the project area with garden beds, plants, and trees. In each project, we stay in close collaboration with the area responsibilities and the relevant stakeholders.
What we are doing right now.
What did we already do?
In 2008, we did a huge cleanup in Padang Padang after a remarkable series of environmental catastrophes caused by an abandoned illegal Taiwanese fishing boat that showed up during a surf competition (Rip Curl Padang Padang Classic).
In 2012, we successfully handed over project Eco Surf Rescue Uluwatu to the local community’s management team that continued with the name Project Clean Uluwatu. The project raised $50,000 and developed a liquid and solid waste management system for Uluwatu.
In June 2013, with the ASP World Surf Tour, we did (in partnership with Oakley) an Eco Surf Rescue at Keramas for about 2 weeks. Every day a team of 5 to 10 people (staff, students, volunteers) started at 6 am to clean the beach.
Eco Surf Rescue Ambassador
The ambassador’s program is running all year long to evaluate and clean the project area. In this ambassadors program, a group of maximal 5 persons at the same time will be allowed. Participants from 3 – 6 months, but also participants for 1 month are allowed. The first week all participant will get training on the Environment Education Centre campus (permaculture, marine environment, deforestation, waste management, water quality analysis). Eco Surf Rescue ambassadors will do volunteering work for about 40 hours a week. Volunteering work consists of managing, evaluating, analyzing and reporting. The volunteering fee that participants pay to is ROLE $800,-. Participants will get a week’s training in waste management, composting, water quality analysis and permaculture. The excess money will be used for projects costs such as the purchase of waste bins, collecting equipment, hiring of ROLE staff for waste management, etc.