Turning the tide on plastic waste in Indonesia's Rivers

Protecting Bali’s Rivers: A Regenerative Approach to Plastic Pollution

Regenerative 2030 is a bold initiative from the World Expeditions Travel Group that aims to embed positive, place-based impact into every trip we offer by the end of the decade. This vision is guided by a belief that travel can restore and regenerate. 

It is possible to reduce harm and actively contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people and places we visit. 

For every booking, we donate $5 to the World Expeditions Foundation to support community-led projects that create lasting, meaningful change.

One such project is underway in Bali, Indonesia, where the impacts of plastic pollution are deeply felt in both urban and coastal areas. Indonesia faces a significant challenge as the second-largest contributor to ocean plastic waste globally. 

It is estimated that more than three million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year from this region alone, with a large percentage flowing directly from rivers. 

Local communities are affected, ecosystems are degraded, and urgent action is needed.

In response, the World Expeditions Foundation is partnering with the Indonesian-based environmental NGO, Sungai Watch. This highly regarded organisation is leading efforts to clean and protect Indonesia’s rivers by installing custom-designed floating barriers that intercept waste before it reaches the ocean. These barriers are simple but effective. They trap plastic and other non-organic materials so that they can be removed, sorted, cleaned and re-used wherever possible.

Funds raised through this project will contribute to the installation and 12-month maintenance of one mini-floater barrier in Bali. The barrier will be monitored by local staff who are trained to collect and process the waste regularly. 

A minimum of five hundred kilograms of plastic will be removed during this time, reducing the volume of pollution flowing into the ocean and improving water quality for communities living nearby.

Importantly, this work is about more than cleanups. It is about creating long-term change. Sungai Watch employs more than 150 full-time staff and has engaged over ten thousand community members since 2020. 

The project provides meaningful jobs and strengthens local environmental leadership. It also delivers education initiatives that help shift attitudes around waste and sustainability, particularly in areas without formal waste management systems.

This initiative supports a range of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption, climate action and life below water. It also contributes to economic development by supporting fair employment and skill-building in local communities.

Regenerative 2030 is about recognising our shared responsibility. Projects like this one in Bali are reminders that small, place-based interventions can make a real difference. They help restore ecosystems, support local people and reduce the collective impact of our modern lifestyles. 

Whether you are travelling through Indonesia or following this story from afar, this is a powerful example of what regeneration looks like in action.

Learn more about our Thoughtful Travel initiatives →