Sungai Watch and Kedonganan Village Unite to Remove Over One Ton of Plastic Waste on National Waste Awareness Day

BALI – Marking Indonesia’s National Waste Awareness Day (HPSN) 2026, environmental organization Sungai Watch led a large-scale coastal clean-up at Kedonganan Beach, Badung Regency, on Saturday (February 21, 2026). The initiative underscored a tangible commitment to addressing marine debris while supporting the government’s National Movement Indonesia ASRI (Safe, Healthy, Clean, Beautiful).

The action brought together a broad coalition of participants, including personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri), residents of Kedonganan Traditional Village, members of the expatriate community group Clean Up Bali, the Community Empowerment Institution (LPM), university nature-lover groups (Mapala), and various environmental communities. The cross-sector collaboration reflected a shared responsibility to safeguard Bali’s environmental sustainability as a global tourism destination.

During the clean-up, volunteers collected 1,059.09 kilograms of plastic waste scattered along the shoreline. The waste was transported to Sungai Watch’s sorting facility, where it will be processed into recycled products. The activity also functioned as an educational platform, introducing participants and residents to proper waste segregation and raising awareness about the types of plastic commonly polluting marine ecosystems.

Kedonganan Beach was chosen due to its recurring exposure to marine debris, particularly between November and February, when monsoon winds and ocean currents carry large volumes of waste ashore. The seasonal pattern has made the area a priority for intervention to protect coastal ecosystems and ensure visitor comfort.

I Made Dwi Bagiasa, Field Manager of Sungai Watch, emphasized that the organization’s mission extends beyond one-day clean-up events.

“We will process the collected plastic waste into recycled products. This is part of a sustainable waste management solution, ensuring that our efforts go beyond clean-ups and waste collection alone,” he said during the activity.

The presence of international volunteers further highlighted global engagement in preserving Bali’s natural beauty. Their participation demonstrated that environmental stewardship transcends national boundaries and is driven by a shared appreciation for the island.

In addition to removing waste, Sungai Watch conducted community outreach sessions to educate residents on waste separation and upstream waste management practices. The initiative aims to strengthen public awareness that waste challenges must be addressed at their source to create long-term impact.

Wayan Sutarja, Bendesa Adat of Kedonganan, stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among institutions and community elements in protecting the environment, particularly in tourism areas such as Kedonganan Beach. He affirmed the traditional village’s full support in mobilizing residents to maintain cleanliness and environmental responsibility moving forward.

Editor – Ray