Shocking footage of “trash tsunamis” flowing down waterways in Indonesia has been shared on social media, highlighting the massive amounts of plastic waste that is accumulating in the tourist hotspot. The footage shows garbage being carried down canals and storm drains, much of it hidden beneath the surface of the water. Clean-up environmentalist Gary Bencheghib, who shared the videos, warned that it will all end up in the ocean. Commenters suggested that the answer lay in tackling the root cause of the issue, rather than shaming those who contribute to plastic waste, and called on people to change their plastic usage habits. Bali, which is a popular Indonesian tourist destination, has previous also been affected by rubbish problems, with a Bali beach covered in litter in January.
Marine Garbage Evacuation Detection Co-ordinator of the Badung Regency Environmental and Sanitation Service Made Gede Dwipayana said in December that the entire Indonesian coast had been covered with rubbish. Volunteers collected a total of 600 tons of waste from October to December. Heavy rain and winds during December and March force rubbish along rivers through Badung Regency and then it accumulates on the coastline. Indonesia recorded 68.5 million tonnes of waste in 2021.
