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How Much Indonesian Waste Ends Up in the Ocean?

Adi Ahdiat 20/04/2026 18:41 WIB

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According to a report by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the volume of Indonesian waste entering the ocean in 2025 is estimated to reach 16 million tons.

Estimation of Indonesia's Waste Generation (2025)

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How Much Indonesian Waste Ends Up in the Ocean?

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Estimation of Indonesia's Waste Generation (2025)

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According to a report from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the total volume of waste generated in Indonesia in 2025 reached 50.06 million tons.

Of all this waste, about 40% is unmanaged and some of it risks entering the sea.

KKP estimates that the volume of Indonesian waste entering the sea in 2025 will reach 16.02 million tons.

"It is estimated that 16.02 million tons of waste enter Indonesian waters. This number makes the condition of Indonesian seas increasingly vulnerable," said Koswara, Director General of Marine Management at KKP, in a press release (2/9/2025).

Koswara stated that waste entering the sea causes various losses, one of which is in the tourism sector.

"In Bali, tourist beaches such as Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak are often filled with waste during the rainy season. This condition harms tourism, tarnishes the image of the destination, and increases the cost of cleaning operations," he said.

Waste-contaminated seas, especially plastic waste, also pose health risks to humans and ecosystems.

"Discarded plastic will decompose into microplastics and enter the food chain. In the end, these small particles can enter the human body," said Koswara.

"Microplastics are now found in sea salt, drinking water, and even human blood. Meanwhile, un-decomposed plastic continues to settle in the oceans, posing a long-term threat to ecosystems and marine life," he continued.

In response to this situation, KKP launched the Healthy Sea Free of Waste (Laut Sebasah) program aimed at reducing the flow of waste into the sea.

"Starting from 2026, a gradual reduction will be implemented, until the volume of marine waste is reduced by 50% by 2029," said Koswara.

"This cross-sectoral program integrates various existing efforts, with an upstream-downstream approach: from river estuaries, coasts, small islands, ports, to shipping activities," he continued.

Editor : Adi Ahdiat

"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."