A beach cleanup at Kedonganan, Jimbaran, on 4 January 2025 marked a major community effort to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste along Bali’s shores.
Hundreds of volunteers, organized by the environmental group Sungai Watch, braved the rain to clear plastic waste littering the beach’s once-pristine sands.
By the eighth day of cleanup efforts, Gary Bencheghib, founder of Sungai Watch, reported a total of 47.000 kilograms of plastic waste collected, including 21.000 kilograms gathered on that day alone. Over 1,500 volunteers helped out throughout the cleanup effort.
“Although the beach is not fully clean yet, the sand is starting to reemerge,” Bencheghib said. However, he warned that seasonal plastic pollution will likely worsen, calling it a national crisis that demands urgent action from individuals, businesses, and the government.
Seasonal Plastic Pollution
The waste, consisting primarily of non-biodegradable materials like plastic bottles and packaging, is a recurring issue during the west monsoon season from October to March.
Indonesia’s Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, explained that much of this waste originates from Java’s rivers and travels along ocean currents, eventually washing ashore in Bali and as far as Madagascar.
The amount of waste reaching Bali’s beaches has increased significantly, with the latest figures for 2024-2025 surpassing those of previous years. Nurofiq attributed the rise to population growth and unsustainable waste management practices.
Community and Government Efforts
Sungai Watch has been collecting and sorting the waste at its eight stations in Bali to track its origins and facilitate recycling. Bencheghib emphasized that a significant portion of the plastic originates from Java, based on labels found on the debris.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment announced plans to target major rivers for cleanup, beginning with three or four within key tourism destinations. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to reduce ocean waste at its source.
The Ministry of Tourism has also launched the Clean Tourism Movement as a flagship program for 2025. The initiative includes forming a Clean Tourism Task Force to improve hygiene at tourist destinations through collaboration with local governments and stakeholders.
“We encourage everyone to keep our beaches clean and ensure Indonesia remains a safe, clean, and enjoyable tourist destination,” said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.
Growing Concerns for Marine Ecosystems
The crisis has drawn attention to its devastating impact on marine life. Volunteers in Kedonganan found sea turtles entangled in plastic waste, along with the remains of fish and turtles that had succumbed to the pollution.
“These are not just local problems but global crises,” Bencheghib said, urging immediate action to address the issue comprehensively.
