Indonesia's plastic waste crisis sparks a 1,200-km protest run for change

Indonesia faces a growing plastic waste crisis, with piles of rubbish lining roadsides and rivers dumping pollution into the ocean. The country ranks as the world’s second-largest contributor to marine plastic waste, just behind China. Now, activists and researchers are stepping up efforts to tackle the problem through awareness campaigns and scientific warnings. Burning garbage heaps have become a common sight across Indonesia, with images of smouldering waste spreading online. The lack of proper waste management has led to illegal dumpsites, including 350 identified on Bali alone by the environmental group Sungai Watch. Founded in 2020 by siblings Sam, Kelly, and Garry Bencheghib, the organisation is working to clean up rivers and reduce plastic pollution.

To draw attention to the issue, Sam Bencheghib and his team are running 1,200 kilometres across the country. Along the way, they have even dived into clogged sewers to remove waste. Their goal is to reach the capital, Jakarta, while raising funds to remove one million kilograms of trash from Indonesia’s rivers. The problem extends beyond visible waste. A 2022 study by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) confirmed that microplastics now fall with the rain, a result of decades of pollution. Researcher Muhammad Reza Cordova has advised people to wear cotton masks and avoid single-use plastics to reduce exposure to these harmful particles. Sungai Watch has set an ambitious target: raising one million dollars to fund its cleanup efforts. The organisation highlights the urgent need for better recycling infrastructure and stricter waste management policies.

The cross-country run and cleanup initiatives aim to push for systemic change in how Indonesia handles waste. With microplastics now present in rainfall and rivers feeding plastic into the ocean, the country’s pollution crisis demands immediate action. Activists and researchers continue to call for stronger measures to prevent further environmental damage.