Editorial photo #9326400 Environmental Issue

Indonesia Is Facing A Plastic Waste Emergency

A view of a river covered by garbage in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on Wednesday, December 17, 2022. The Earth is literally covered in water, but more than a billion people lack access to clean water for drinking or sanitation as most water is salty or dirty. Plastic pollution in Indonesia is second only to China as the world's largest contributor to plastic pollution. Between 1.15 million and 2.41 million tons of plastic waste contaminate the oceans each year. Of this, Indonesia is estimated to contribute roughly 200,000 tons of waste from its rivers and streams. Plastic pollution in Indonesia has become a huge nuisance. (Photo by Garry Lotulung/NurPhoto)