Tides of ocean debris and plastic waste have been washing up on Bali’s shores since late November 2025.
This seasonal phenomenon is no longer a shocking sight to local communities and returning visitors to Bali, but to first-time tourists, the scene of idyllic beachfronts strewn with trash can be a lot to take in.
One of the worst-affected areas by the seasonal tides of waste is the stretch of coastline between Pantai Jerman and Kuta Beach.
This week is no exception. On Monday, 19th January, more than 800 personnel were deployed to Pantai Jerman and Kuta Beach, along with 60 trucks, loaders, and diggers, to help clean up the tonnes upon tonnes of waste.
Officials who take care of Badung Regency’s beaches have noted that this last tide of trash was the worst of the season to date.
Speaking to reporters, Made Rai Warastuti, Acting Head of the Badung Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK), explained, “If you look at the peak season, the amount of trash sent is from November to Sunday. This is likely due to the high tides, which cause a huge amount of trash to be sent.”
Though it is the worst yet, the worst still could be to come as the typical tides of trash still arrive on Bali’s beaches until mid-February, and it’s impossible to forecast when the most heavily laden waves will come.
The tide of trash that washed over the weekend and into Monday, 19th January, was comprised mostly of wood and organic material, though closer to the Pantai Jerman edge of the coastline, high amounts of plastic waste have also been deposited by the tide.
Warasuti revealed that initial estimates suggest that 200 tonnes of waste will be cleared from Pantai Jerman alone.
He explained, “Judging from its thickness, it’s more or less the same. Because the wood is large, the volume is indeed high.”
He noted that the clean-up operation is not always straightforward. “The difficulty is because at Pantai Jerman, there is a pipe for filling sand, and the sea waves are also quite high. That makes it difficult for us to evacuate the trash. But we are doing our best. The heavy equipment has been on site since early this morning.”
When asked about where the debris will be taken once cleared from the beach, Warasuti explained, “We are currently taking the waste to the Suwung Landfill because the volume is so large that we cannot shred it more quickly.”
“The Mengwitani PDU doesn’t have enough space, so we are taking it to the Suwung Landfill. We will definitely handle it as thoroughly and quickly as possible.”
The Manager of Pantai Jerman, Ketut Werka, told reporters, “There’s been trash coming in since early December, but the most extreme was seen in the water yesterday (Saturday), and today it’s finally come ashore. It’s extraordinary, like a sea of trash. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this in decades.”
Werka confirmed that teams will be working around the clock to clear the length and breadth of the beaches to ensure that both local community members and tourists can enjoy Bali’s most famous vacation hotspot.
He noted. “This beach is the face of tourism. We hope that assistance from the relevant agencies, especially the Environment and Forestry Department, will be provided soon. We as managers are clearly limited, both in terms of equipment and waste disposal locations.”
Tourists who are set to visit Kuta Beach or Pantai Jerman in the coming days and weeks are reminded that tidal debris is likely to be present on the beaches, especially in the early mornings.
Tourists who are concerned about the tides of trash and want to visit a beach nearby where there is less of a risk of debris on the shore should consider visiting nearby Seminyak Beach or even Canggu. Alternatively, it is possible travel further south along the coast to Uluwatu or even over to the other side of the Bukit Peninsula to Nusa Dua or Sanur.
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