As the year-end holiday season draws crowds of travelers to Bali, another less welcome influx arrives on its shores: beach waste.
Beaches like Seminyak, Legian, Kuta, Tuban, Kedonganan, and Jimbaran bear the brunt, with piles of plastic waste and driftwood washing up alongside the festive crowds.
And no, this waste isn’t simply litter left behind by visitors—it’s largely the result of seasonal weather patterns.
At Kedonganan Beach, the problem is particularly stark, with inorganic waste dominating the scene. Heavy rains and strong winds during this season are key culprits, pushing debris from the ocean to Bali’s once-pristine coastlines.
Beaches Turned Plastic Wastelands, Restaurants Close
Volunteers at Kedonganan Beach have collected dozens of sacks of discarded plastics. However, much of the micro-debris remains mixed with sand, leaving parts of the beach resembling a “plastic desert.”
Several beachfront restaurants have opted to close, unable to operate amidst the strewn rubbish—ranging from branches to plastic waste. The pollution has also rendered the beach unappealing and unusable for tourists.
Environmentalists Step Up
The environmental group Sungai Watch has mobilized in response.
Since Dec. 25, 2024, they’ve removed up to three tons of plastic waste with the help of volunteers, including students and tourists.
“We’re focusing on inorganic waste because it’s the most prevalent,” said Made Hari Semara, a Sungai Watch representative, on Dec. 26, 2024.
“Organic debris like wood and branches will be handled by beach management teams.”
He explained that the debris is primarily brought in by ocean currents during periods of extreme weather. December through February, and sometimes early March, marks the peak season for marine debris washing ashore, particularly from the west.
Heavy rains pose additional challenges, forcing volunteers to work cautiously to ensure safety.
“Cleanup will continue over the coming days, but due to the rain, it’s being done in stages,” Made added.
Tourism Industry Advocates for Ocean Cleanup
The tourism sector has raised concerns about the state of Bali’s beaches, urging authorities to tackle the problem at sea rather than onshore.
“For the future, I suggest dealing with the waste in the ocean before it reaches the beaches. How this is implemented could be explored,” said Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, Chair of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) Bali, during a meeting with the Bali Tourism Office on Dec. 26, 2024.
Government Response
The proposal has received a positive response from officials.
Made Ayu, Acting Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, noted the effectiveness of similar strategies in other countries.
“Many countries are already doing this. For instance, musician band Coldplay supported efforts in the Citarum River using boats to collect trash,” she said, referring to the “Neon Moon II” river-cleaning boat donated by the band in June 2024 for operations in West Java’s Citarum River. The operation shortly came to a halt after large waste—from bamboo to discarded furniture and mattresses—kept jamming the boat’s machinery.
Ayu added that similar ideas to collect waste directly from water surfaces are under consideration by the ministry and could be integrated with initiatives from other government agencies.
“Detailed discussions are ongoing, aiming for nationwide solutions, including education for tourists to avoid situations where visitors come to Bali and find trash-laden beaches,” she explained.
