Ambon: A 3-Year Expedition for Lasting Change
Addressing Plastic Pollution at its Source
2025 - 2028
Ambon, an island in eastern Indonesia, faces severe waste management challenges, with limited recycling infrastructure and widespread plastic pollution threatening marine ecosystems. Rivers, coastal communities, and urban areas contribute to the accumulation of waste in the ocean, affecting marine biodiversity, local fisheries, and public health.
A Research-Driven Mission
This three-year expedition will focus on understanding and mitigating plastic pollution at its source while fostering long-term environmental stewardship in the region.
Key Objectives
Scientific research to analyze plastic pollution sources and its impact on marine life and local communities.
Awareness and education programs to promote lasting behavioral change and improved waste management habits.
Capacity building: training local teams and organizations to ensure continued waste collection and recycling beyond the project’s duration.
Sustainable transition: at the end of the mission, the Mobula unit will be donated to local partners, ensuring long-term waste collection and environmental protection.
Ambon’s Plastic Burden: Facts That Demand Action
In Southeast Asia, plastic pollution poses a severe threat to both local livelihoods and fragile ecosystems. Indonesia produces approximately 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, with about 4.9 million tons mismanaged—meaning it’s uncollected, disposed of in open dumpsites, or leaked from improperly managed landfills. (Banque Mondiale)
An estimated 346,500 tons of plastic waste are discharged into the marine environment from land-based sources each year, with two-thirds originating from Java and Sumatra. Rivers are responsible for carrying 83% of this debris into the ocean.
In Ambon, capital of the Moluccas in Indonesia, plastic waste is accumulating at an alarming rate in marine and coastal environments. With a population density exceeding 647 inhabitants per km² (BPS, 2020), the island is one of the most densely populated small islands in the region. Two major bays, Ambon Bay and Baguala Bay, are increasingly affected, especially in urban zones where only 15% of the surface area is flat, concentrating human activity along the coast.
Studies in Ambon Bay have found an average of 18.87 items of coastal litter per square meter, with plastics being the most prevalent. Research indicates that plastic films from food packaging and single-use bags are dominant, accounting for 85% of plastic waste on certain beaches. ResearchGate
Ambon Bay has 29 rivers in total, among which:
- 7 rivers are reported to give slight or no impact to Ambon Bay (white)
- 3 of the rivers are quite impactful (yellow)
- 19 rivers are very impactful because of the carry of sedimentation, garbage, oil, and household waste. These rivers are in congested area that are used by people to dispose waste (red)
Position of the river mouth towards Ambon Bay
Impact and Next Steps
By combining scientific research, community engagement, and hands-on intervention, this mission aims to transform waste management policies and empower local communities to take ownership of environmental conservation. The expedition will serve as a catalyst for systemic change, providing a scalable model for tackling plastic pollution across Indonesia and beyond.
