Indonesia ranks among the world’s top waste-producing nations, with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries reporting an astounding 50 million tons of land-based waste accumulating annually. Of this total, approximately 16 million tons find their way into the oceans, while an additional 4 million tons originate directly from marine activities. In total, around 20 million tons of waste pollute our seas each year.
“Every year, around 50 million tons of waste are deposited on land. Of that, roughly 16 million tons eventually end up in our oceans. Marine activities contribute another 4 million tons, making it a total of about 20 million tons of marine waste annually,” explains Ahmad Aris, Director of Coastal and Small Islands Affairs at the Ministry, during a media briefing in Central Jakarta on August 1, 2025.
Aris emphasizes the alarming impacts of both plastic and organic waste on marine ecosystems. Excess organic matter flowing into the sea can trigger harmful algal blooms, leading to eutrophication and the eventual death of plankton populations. Meanwhile, fish often become victims of microplastics, which pose grave dangers to aquatic life.
Plastic debris also severely damages coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves by suffocating them and reducing oxygen levels, ultimately destroying these vital ecosystems. When marine organisms ingest plastics, it threatens their survival and disrupts the entire food chain. Damaged ecosystems mean unsustainable fish stocks, jeopardizing the livelihoods and food security of communities dependent on these resources.
To combat this crisis, Aris stresses the importance of collaborative efforts from upstream to downstream. The Ministry has set an ambitious goal: by 2029, our seas should be free from waste. Toward this, targets include reducing waste by 8 million tons in 2026, 10 million tons in 2027, 12 million tons in 2028, and 14 million tons by 2029.
A significant step will be the signing of a shared commitment and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) scheduled for the 6th of the month, involving initial cooperation between two provinces—Jakarta and Bali. These agreements involve the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, regional governments, the Public Works and Housing Ministry, the Environmental Agency, and river management authorities, all working together to turn this vision into reality.
