Movies about waste are not only a source of entertainment, but also an educational medium that helps audiences understand the impacts of environmental pollution and the importance of responsible waste management.
Through fictional stories and documentaries, these films show how human habits in producing and managing waste can shape the future of the planet.
In Indonesia, waste remains a major challenge. Based on data from the National Waste Management Information System, or SIPSN, millions of tons of waste are generated every year, with some of it still ending up in landfills, rivers, and the ocean.
This situation makes waste reduction education increasingly important. Films can support this effort by delivering environmental messages in engaging and accessible ways.
Recommended Movies About Waste and the Environment
Waste-related issues can be understood from various perspectives, ranging from plastic pollution and textile waste to their impacts on oceans, forests, and climate change.
Below are several movies about waste and environmental documentaries that not only entertain, but also provide valuable insights and encourage greater concern for the planet, including the challenges of waste management in Indonesia.
1. The Story of Plastic (2019)
For those seeking to understand the root causes of plastic waste, this documentary is an excellent choice. The Story of Plastic explores the journey of plastic from production to its final destination as waste that pollutes the environment.
The film also examines the challenges of plastic recycling, cross-border waste trading, and the impacts of plastic pollution on human health and ecosystems.
2. WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E is one of the most iconic movies about waste. This Pixar animated film portrays Earth in the 29th century, when the planet has become uninhabitable due to excessive consumption, poor waste management, and environmental destruction.
The main character is a waste-collecting robot named WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-Class, whose task is to clean up the planet. The arrival of another robot, EVE, changes WALL-E’s life and brings new hope for humanity’s future.
3. Pulau Plastik (2021)
As an Indonesian documentary, Pulau Plastik highlights the issue of single-use plastics, which is closely connected to the daily lives of people in Indonesia. This makes it one of the most relevant movies about waste in the Indonesian context.
The film follows three individuals as they investigate the impacts of plastic on the environment, the food chain, and human health through microplastic exposure.
4. The Clean Bin Project (2010)
This documentary follows Grant and Jen, a couple who attempt to produce as little waste as possible for one year.
Presented in a light and humorous style, the film demonstrates that reducing waste can begin with simple changes in everyday habits.
5. Before the Flood (2016)
Through Leonardo DiCaprio’s journey across several countries, including Indonesia, this film explores climate change, deforestation, and the excessive use of natural resources.
Viewers are encouraged to understand the close relationship between waste management, energy consumption, land clearing, and global climate change.
6. A Plastic Ocean (2016)
This documentary begins with journalist Craig Leeson discovering large amounts of plastic waste while searching for blue whales in the ocean.
Together with diver Tanya Streeter and a team of scientists, he travels to various countries to uncover the effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.
In addition to illustrating the scale of the plastic problem, the film presents several solutions that governments, industries, and communities can implement.
Related Article: Organic Waste: Types, Environmental Impacts, and Solutions
7. Semesta (Semes7A) (2018)
This Indonesian documentary presents seven inspiring stories from different regions, showing how communities preserve the balance of nature through cultural practices, religious values, and local wisdom.
8. Trashed (2012)
Presented by actor Jeremy Irons, this documentary takes viewers around the world to examine the impacts of waste and pollution.
The film highlights how consumer culture generates vast quantities of waste while encouraging people to take greater responsibility for the waste they produce.
9. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
This Academy Award-winning documentary tells the story of a diver’s relationship with an octopus in South Africa.
Although it does not focus specifically on waste, the film reminds viewers of the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution.
10. Sexy Killers (2019)
This Indonesian documentary examines the impacts of the coal industry, from mining activities to the operation of coal-fired power plants.
In addition to discussing environmental damage, the film also portrays the social impacts experienced by communities living near mining areas.
11. A Life on Our Planet (2020)
Through the life story of David Attenborough, this film shows how the condition of the planet has changed over several decades as a result of human activity.
Alongside its portrayal of wildlife and natural beauty, the documentary also offers hope through various solutions for restoring the environment.
12. The True Cost (2015)
Although it focuses on the fashion industry, this film demonstrates how textile waste has become a major contributor to environmental pollution.
Viewers are invited to understand the relationship between the habit of buying inexpensive clothing, worker exploitation, chemical use, and the accumulation of textile waste across different countries.
13. Diam & Dengarkan (2020)
This Indonesian documentary consists of six segments exploring various environmental issues, including plastic, water, forests, and the relationship between humans and nature.
Each segment encourages viewers to reflect on how even small actions can affect the sustainability of the planet.
14. Seaspiracy (2021)
This documentary explores several threats facing the ocean, including plastic waste, overfishing, and fishing practices considered harmful to marine ecosystems.
Although the film has generated debate, it has succeeded in drawing greater public attention to the condition of the world’s oceans.
Why Are Movies About Waste Important to Watch?
The movies about waste listed above demonstrate that waste is not only a matter of cleanliness. It is also closely connected to public health, climate change, economic sustainability, and the future of the next generation.
In Indonesia, waste management challenges continue to grow as the population and consumption levels increase.
For this reason, education through popular media such as films can serve as an important first step in raising public awareness and encouraging people to reduce, sort, and manage waste more responsibly.
Related Article: Waste Management: A Key Solution to the Waste Processing Crisis, Including Its Methods and Approaches
Advancing a Sustainable Waste Management Future with TBS
The messages conveyed through various movies about waste become even more meaningful when followed by concrete action.
One company committed to supporting sustainable waste management in Southeast Asia is TBS, through the development of an integrated waste management business.
In 2023, TBS established the foundation of its waste management operations through the acquisition of Asia Medical Enviro Services, or AMES, and ARAH. Both companies have expertise in managing medical waste, hazardous and toxic waste, domestic waste, and electronic waste.
These businesses were subsequently placed under PT Solusi Bersih TBS, or SBT, a dedicated waste management sub-holding company.
This development continued in March 2025, when TBS Energi Utama completed the full acquisition of Sembcorp Environment, or SembEnviro, a leading Singapore-based company with experience in municipal waste management, recycling, and environmental solutions.
The acquisition strengthened TBS Energi Utama’s technological capabilities, operational scale, and service coverage across Southeast Asia.
In September 2025, SembEnviro officially changed its name to CORA Environment, bringing TBS Energi Utama’s waste management businesses under a single identity focused on future-oriented waste-to-resource solutions.
Today, through AMES, ARAH, and CORA Environment, TBS Energi Utama continues to implement its TBS2030 roadmap by providing sustainable waste management solutions, reducing environmental impacts, and creating long-term value for communities.
By 2025, the TBS Energi Utama network had operated five waste management facilities in Indonesia and Singapore, processed more than one million tons of waste annually, and served more than 475,000 customers.
This commitment demonstrates that collaboration among communities, governments, and businesses such as TBS Energi Utama is essential for creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
