BALI, Indonesia: A surge of plastic waste driven by the monsoon has inundated Kedonganan beach in Bali, turning its normally pristine shores into a sea of garbage. This annual event underscores Indonesia’s significant contribution to global marine pollution, with plastic bottles, cups, and packaging littering the once-beautiful coastline.
Local officials, including Anak Agung Dalem from the environment agency, have mobilized around 300 officers and six excavators to tackle the massive cleanup effort. Despite their endeavors, the trash-strewn beach presents a disheartening scene for tourists, who lament the stark disparity between Bali’s reality and its advertised beauty.
French visitor Denis Le Merre expressed his dismay, vowing never to return to the polluted shores. Meanwhile, locals salvage recyclable materials from the debris, highlighting the economic importance of waste management initiatives.
The recurring phenomenon, attributed to monsoon rains between November and March, underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to Indonesia’s mounting plastic crisis. While the country has pledged to reduce marine plastic waste, the sight of garbage-laden beaches continues to deter tourists and tarnish Bali’s reputation.
Despite the challenges, residents like Paulina Kaka remain hopeful that concerted cleanup efforts will restore Bali’s allure. However, Dalem cautions that addressing the issue will require time and patience, emphasizing the interconnectedness of beaches and the ocean in combating marine pollution.
