‘Worst’ waves of plastic hit Bali beach after monsoons sparking mass clean-up

Hundreds of volunteers are being urged to join a mass clean-up in Bali, after locals say “the worst” waves of plastic waste hit its tourist-favoured beaches. See the video.

Hundreds of volunteers joined a cleanup in Bali, Indonesia as monsoon rains brought what an activist described as “the worst” waves of plastic waste to hit its tourist-favoured beaches.

The Southeast Asian nation is one of the world’s biggest contributors of plastic pollution and marine debris, with annual monsoon rains and winds sweeping mountains of plastic waste from its cities and rivers into the ocean.

Participants and volunteers remove plastic waste and other garbage washed ashore at a beach in Kedonganan Badung regency, Indonesia's Bali island. Picture: AFP

Some of it drifts hundreds of kilometres before washing up on the beaches on the holiday island -- especially between November and March.

Across Kedonganan beach in the south of the island, plastic cups, straws, cutlery, and empty coffee sachets were scattered across the sand, mixed with plant and wood debris.

Bali’s Jimbaran and Kuta Beaches are also being hit by tides upon tides of plastic and ocean debris.

Participants and volunteers remove plastic waste and other garbage washed ashore at a beach in Kedonganan Badung regency, Indonesia's Bali island. Picture: AFP

Around 600 volunteers, including local residents, hospitality workers, and tourists, braved a rainy morning to pick up the waste by hand before filling hundreds of large sacks.

The Environmental NGO Sungai Watch called it “the worst” plastic waste pollution to wash ashore in Bali.

Participants and volunteers remove plastic waste and other garbage washed ashore. Picture: AFP

“We have never seen plastics a metre thick in the sand. In just six days of cleanup, we collected 25 tons, which is a record for us,” said Sungai Watch founder Gary Bencheghib.

Bencheghib said an audit found most of the plastic waste came from cities on neighbouring Java, Indonesia’s most-populated island.

Participants and volunteers remove plastic waste and other garbage washed ashore. Picture: AFP

Mr Bencheghib shared, “This weekend, we’re attempting to organize the biggest cleanup we have ever organized, and we need all helping hands.”

“We are experiencing a plastic emergency in Jimbaran. For the last 7 days, we have collected +25 tons of plastics but plastic waves are still washing up non stop. More than ever we need the support of the Indonesian government.”

“The newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Minister of Environment will be in Bali this weekend… let’s pray for them to come to Jimbaran and make the plastic pollution battle a priority this year for Indonesia.”

Participants and volunteers remove plastic waste and other garbage washed ashore at a beach in Kedonganan Badung regency, Indonesia's Bali island. Picture: AFP

“This isn’t just a local problem; it’s a crisis impacting all of Indonesia. The scale of this pollution is staggering, and urgent action from individuals, businesses, and the government is required to address the root causes of plastic waste.”

Tatiana Komelova, a Russian tourist volunteer, said the sight of the pollution shocked her, and motivated her to reduce the use of plastic in her daily life.

“I knew the problem existed, but I didn’t know it was this bad,” she said. “I use plastic products a lot in my life, and now I try to reduce it as much as possible.”