Greta Beach on Christmas Island, a vital nesting ground for green sea turtles, is heavily affected by plastic waste. During the dry season (June-August), Indian Ocean currents deposit significant quantities of plastic, covering the beach. This makes nesting challenging for green sea turtles, which are a recently delisted endangered species.
Origin and Impact of Plastic Waste
Most of the debris (98.2%) found on Greta Beach originates from Indonesia and Malaysia, with only 1.8% from Christmas Island or mainland Australia. The accumulation of waste hinders female turtles from laying eggs and prevents hatchlings from reaching the sea. Volunteer groups, such as Island Care and the Tangaroa Blue Foundation, conduct continuous clean-ups; for example, 2.8 tonnes of rubbish were collected from Greta Beach in 2025, more than double the amount from 2023. Despite these efforts, plastic returns rapidly with the tides.
Wider Implications and Community Response
Researchers note that the visible plastic is only a portion of the problem, with microplastics posing an additional threat to marine ecosystems. The overproduction of plastics in neighboring countries contributes to the issue. The situation on Christmas Island reflects a broader problem affecting other Indian Ocean territories, including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Efforts to address the problem include calls for a Global Plastics Treaty, though recent talks among 185 nations failed. Australia's federal Environment Minister expressed disappointment and noted investments in recycling infrastructure for small islands. Christmas Island currently lacks recycling facilities.
Local Initiatives and Awareness
Community-led initiatives are underway to mitigate the problem and raise awareness:
- Tangaroa Blue Foundation: Coordinates beach clean-ups and data collection, and has established an 'esky library' to repurpose polystyrene boxes used for transporting food.
- Green Space Tech: Converts discarded polystyrene boxes into hydroponic systems for growing fresh produce locally.
- Eco Crab Industries: Aims to revive a local plastic-recycling workshop to process collected plastics.
- Art and Education: Artist Cecile Williams works with the community to create art from collected plastic debris, highlighting the environmental impact. Christmas Island District High School students participate in marine debris audits, collecting substantial amounts of rubbish.