Bali's Waste Crisis Deepens After Landfill Partial Closure
Buduk Village Waste Site Cleared After Months of Neglect
In Buduk village, Bali, an unofficial dumping site had been accumulating waste for months, with local residents paying a fee for its use. Following inquiries from ABC News, local authorities ordered the site to be cleared, with all waste subsequently transported to the Suwung landfill.
Urban biologist Buya Azmedia Istiqlal described the situation as a crisis, noting waste burning and dumping in rivers.
Suwung Landfill: A Troubled Facility
Bali's main waste facility, the Suwung landfill, is a large open-air site that had long been a source of methane emissions and leachate, and had previously caught fire. In April 2024, as part of Indonesia's push to end open dumping, the landfill was partially closed to organic waste.
The consequences were immediate and severe. Reports indicate a sharp increase in illegal dumping, littering, and waste burning across various areas. By June 2024, the provincial government partially reversed the closure, allowing organic waste at Suwung just two days per week.
A large pile of waste was also observed near Denpasar's reservoir, dredged directly from a river.
The Scale of the Problem
Bali generates approximately 3,500 tonnes of waste daily, with 65% being organic and 15% plastic. Tourist numbers have nearly tripled in 15 years, with 7 million foreign and 9 million domestic tourists visiting in 2023. Traditional waste management systems have not adapted to the surge in plastic use.
Voices on the Ground
- Sungai Watch co-founder Gary Bencheghib reported increased waste and burning, with residents complaining of persistent odors.
- Denpasar City environment department head Ida Bagus Putra Wirabawa stated that illegal dumping violations are declining and that the city conducts supervision and uses CCTV.
- NGO development manager Ni Luh Putu Ratih Pravitha noted that behavior change remains a major challenge, and that single-use plastic bans have not been fully implemented in markets.
Ongoing Solutions and Future Plans
Bencheghib noted a positive shift: increased public awareness and conversation about waste since the crisis.
- Waste-to-Energy Facility: A waste-to-energy plant near Suwung is proposed, expected to divert 1,500 tonnes daily and be completed in 2-3 years.
- Local Initiatives: Since 2019, local regencies have introduced waste sorting, single-use plastic bans, and recycling initiatives.
- Community Efforts: Community waste banks and sorting facilities are being established across the island.