EarthOne Launches Fresh Take on Planet‑Friendly News
AsiaOne has rolled out a brand‑new section called EarthOne—a spot dedicated to all things green and scientific. If your heart beats for the planet and you love a good fact‑check, you’ll find plenty of engaging stories right here.
From Plastic to Rice: A Balinese Survival Story
Meet Kadek Rai Nama Rupat, a local souvenir shop owner on the sunny island of Bali, who’s been fighting to keep his business afloat during the COVID‑19 chaos.
Travel bans and soaring food costs turned his shop into a quiet ghost town. “Without tourists and with prices going through the roof, it’s a real struggle,” Rupat says.
Enter a creative twist: the Bali Plastic Exchange, a community project that swaps plastic junk for rice. “Every plastic piece is a treasure right now,” Rupat smiles, noting he traded about four kilos of plastic for one kilo of rice. A single kilo of rice runs between 15,000 to 20,000 rupiah—roughly $1.40 to $1.90—enough for a family of four to eat about two kilos a day. The trade is a win‑win for food and waste.
How It Works
- Villagers bring their plastic litter—no limits, just encourage local collection.
- The exchange team consolidates the trash.
- Plastic is sold to a recycling company, turning waste into cash.
- That money buys fresh rice for the community.
Behind the Change: I Made Janur Yasa’s Vision
Founder I Made Janur Yasa, 55, once ran a vegan restaurant that took a big hit during the pandemic. “I wanted to feed my people and clean up the spot we live in,” he explains.
Since launching in May last year, the program has supported roughly 40,000 families in 200 villages and recycled nearly 600 tons of plastic. “It feels fantastic to see people embrace this idea,” Yasa says, eager to expand across Indonesia.
Why It Matters
Indonesia tops the list of nations contributing to ocean plastic, ranking second worldwide per a 2019 Science journal study. Tackling this problem locally with a simple trade can have a global ripple effect.
“If each person can bring in any amount of plastic, the potential impact is massive,” Yasa notes. “We’re already shipping waste, turning it into rice, and giving back to families.”
Get Involved
Want to dive deeper? Check EarthOne for more eye‑opening stories about clean oceans, climate action, and community ingenuity.
