Bali bans small plastic water bottles

Bali has taken a major stop towards reducing plastic waste.

The holiday island's governor, Wayan Koster, has banned the production and manufacture of water in small plastic containers, newsletter Bali Update reports.

All plastic containers with capacities of less than one litre are included. The decree effectively ends the use of plastic cups of water, small drinking bottles, or half-litre water containers.

The Provincial Government of Bali said the move represented "a collective, systematic, integrated, and culturally based action to alleviate the growing trash problem".

The memorandum is intended to dramatically reduce plastic waste across six sectors: offices, traditional villages, businesses, hotels and restaurants, educational institutions, marketplaces, and places of worship.

The includes severe enforcement provisions. Sanctions include revocation of company permits and licenses and suspension of financial aid to traditional villages.

Conversely, community members who consistently support the program to eliminate one-time-use plastics will be given government incentives and rewards.

Governor Koster said the move would apply across the armed forces, the Indonesian police, village chiefs, community leaders, and community organisers.

“We must stop using single-use plastic and process waste starting from the source," Koster said. "Use compost, maggots, animal feed, or other modern systems. This is a collective movement, not just a campaign.

“Green hotels, green malls, green restaurants - that’s the future of Bali. If a destination is not environmentally friendly, don’t expect to be visited by international travellers.”

Tourists will now need to provide their own stainless steel drinking bottles.  

Airline slammed for "unacceptable" service failures

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has clamped down on budget airline Wizz Air after a swag of customer complaints.

The organisation - which clearly has more teeth than Australia's pathetic excuse for a regulator - had expressed concerns for several months over consumer rights being ignored when Wizz flights were delayed or cancelled.

Several County Court Judgements have been issued against Wizz Air over the last nine months and The Guardian reported Wizz Air could be forced to pay out millions of pounds to angry passengers.

The CAA has instructed Wizz Air to make changes to its policies and procedures to comply with its legal obligations.

Wizz Air, for those not familiar with this bad boy, is a Hungarian multinational with its head office in Budapest.

The airline serves many cities across Europe, as well as some destinations in North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub continent.

The CAA says Wizz Air will now be forced to make changes to its policies and passenger communications.

The airline has agreed to look again at claims it received from disgruntled passengers for replacement flight and other costs incurred after flight disruptions.

The action covers claims for flights to and from UK Airports since March 18 last year, Travel Mole reports.

Wizz Air has agreed to sign undertakings with the regulator to make good on these outstanding claims.

The CAA will also monitor the airline for compliance over the coming months.

Wizz Air will also be required to provide information to the CAA about its review of closed expenses claims.

Paul Smith, joint-interim CEO at the CAA, said: “This enforcement action sends a clear message that airlines must meet their obligations to passengers.

“Passengers have every right to expect their complaints and claims to be resolved quickly and efficiently and to be treated fairly.

“We made it clear to Wizz Air last year that the way it was treating passengers was unacceptable.”