Bali, long seen as a tropical paradise, is now grappling with
a growing plastic pollution crisis that threatens both its
environment and global image. Each year, especially during
the monsoon season from October to March, tides and river
currents carry massive amounts of plastic waste onto its
beaches. Once-pristine stretches of sand—like those at
Kuta, Seminyak, and Dreamland—are regularly buried under
layers of trash. The sight is jarring: plastic bottles, food
wrappers, discarded household items, and more, scattered
across what should be postcard-perfect coastlines.
This problem isn’t just local. While Bali generates a large
amount of its own waste—amplified by the millions of
tourists who visit annually—much of the plastic also comes
from elsewhere, carried by rivers and ocean currents. The
island’s waste management systems are not equipped to
handle the volume. Many landfills are overloaded, and a
significant portion of waste remains uncollected.
In some communities, burning trash in the open has
become common, releasing toxic fumes into the air.
Grassroots efforts have emerged to push back.
Organizations like Sungai Watch install river barriers to trap
plastic and recycle some of the collected waste into
furniture. Youth-led movements such as Bye Bye Plastic
Bags have helped push for bans on single-use plastics.
Bali’s government is working on solutions, including waste to-energy plants and broader plastic bans. But without a fully functioning waste system—one that prioritizes collection, recycling, and inforcement—progress remains fragile. Bali’s struggle reflects a global challenge: balancing tourism, development, and sustainability before the island’s natural beauty disappears beneath a tide of waste.
Photographer Aleksander Salski @aleksander_salski
Model Camille @camillevit0ria/ Balistarz
Hair & Makeup Kinga Jetkowska @kingajetkowskamakeup
Production Dorota Golian
Publisher @flanellemagazine
Wardrobe Look 1: dress TANN LINE; shoes Hermès; eyewear DIESEL; neckles IZABELLA BUDRYN // Look 2: green rain coat VETEMENTS; sunglasses OSCAR x FRANK // Look 3: shell earring & ring IZABELLA BUDRYN // Look 4: big transparent can earring IZABELLA BUDRYN; sunglasses OSCAR x FRANK // Look 5: white set top&shorts HONEST THE LABEL; sunglasses OSCAR x FRANK // Look 6: shell rings IZABELLA BUDRYN // Look 7: tan one-piece cut-out swimsuit ASOS
