Bali's Beaches Drowning in Plastic Waste
The Indonesian island of Bali is confronting an unprecedented environmental emergency as plastic pollution reaches catastrophic levels. January 2025 saw the island's famous beaches inundated with waves of plastic waste, marking what local residents describe as the worst year yet for pollution.
The Frontline Fight Against Plastic
Photographer and film-maker Sean Gallagher travelled to Bali to document the escalating crisis, capturing powerful images of the communities battling against the rising tide of rubbish. His portraits are currently on display as part of the 2025 Head On photo festival at Bondi Beach promenade, running until 30 November.
One striking image shows Putu Agus Indrawan holding up bags of plastic water bottles at a recycling centre. The scene highlights Indonesia's position as the world's second-largest plastic polluter after China, according to United Nations Environment Program data. With a population of 250 million people, the country faces immense challenges in managing plastic waste.
Community Heroes Take Action
Across Bali, dedicated individuals and organisations are fighting back against the plastic deluge. Komang Juniawan stands guard at a waste collection barrier in the mangroves of central Bali, representing Sungai Watch - an organisation that organises clean-ups and installs barriers to prevent plastic from reaching the ocean.
Local residents like Made Ani Mahetri and Edy Irawan regularly participate in beach clean-ups at Kedonganan beach, where the plastic problem has become particularly severe. Made Bolang works tirelessly collecting rubbish from small rivers in rice fields, part of community teams that regularly remove accumulated refuse from local waterways.
The crisis intensifies during the rainy season, when Indonesia's polluted rivers flush millions of tonnes of plastic waste into the oceans, which then washes up on the country's beaches. Despite efforts by NGOs to organise clean-up events that mobilise both residents and tourists, the waves of plastic pollution continue to arrive relentlessly.
As local resident Saiful noted on Kedonganan beach, 2025 has been the 'worst year yet' for plastic pollution. The challenge facing Bali is monumental, with the popular tourist island struggling to cope with a plastic crisis that threatens both its environment and its economy.
