Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, has announced plans to hold a waste management competition at the village level as part of efforts to address Bali’s waste crisis. This program is set to begin in 2026 and will refer to Bali Governor Regulation No. 47 of 2019 concerning Source-Based Waste Management.
According to Koster, the people of Bali have a high level of interest in competitions, so it is hoped that this competition will motivate villages to seriously address the waste issue.
As reported by Detikbali, “In Bali, the community really enjoys competitions. If it’s a competition, they will take it more seriously. Therefore, we will hold a competition for villages that can effectively resolve their waste problems,” Koster said.
Village Competition for Effective Waste Management
The competition aims to reward villages that successfully manage waste, with prizes ranging from IDR 500 million to IDR 1 billion. In addition to the competition, Koster emphasized two main schemes in waste management.
First, waste management will begin at the village level, with support from Babinsa (military service). “If all villages work effectively, the target of solving Bali’s waste problem can be achieved within two years. Starting from the village level,” Koster explained.
Second, industries such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, schools, malls, and supermarkets will be required to have their own waste management units on-site. If they fail to manage their waste properly, their operating permits will be reviewed and could face sanctions.
The waste problem in Bali is indeed becoming more urgent. Data from 2024 shows that Bali’s waste generation reached 1,167,451.75 tons, with the majority consisting of wood, branches, food waste, plastic, and paper. Koster has prepared strategic steps to tackle this issue, such as reducing the use of single-use plastics.
“The steps have already begun with a circular letter from the Secretary of the Province, starting with the use of tumblers and no longer using plastic-packaged drinks in both provincial and district/city governments across Bali. We will expand this to the village level, traditional villages, as well as schools throughout Bali,” Koster stated in a Regional Government Coordination Meeting.
Additionally, Koster plans to invite producers of packaged beverages to stop producing such products and to ban their use throughout Bali. This policy also includes the requirement for hotels, restaurants, malls, places of worship, educational institutions, traditional markets, and tourist attractions to have waste management units.
On the other hand, Koster also plans to build waste management facilities using incinerator technology in several regencies, such as Denpasar, Badung, and Gianyar, to handle the large volume of waste.
Incentives in Waste Management
However, Bali’s waste problem still requires more attention. Researchers from Udayana University, I Gede Hendrawan, reminded that good waste management must start from the source, meaning waste separation at the source.
As reported by Tirto.id, “Plastic bottles, plastic waste, and others can be recycled or reused. Why are they not functioning properly? Because TPS3R and TPST receive mixed waste,” he said.
Hendrawan also emphasized that the Suwung Final Waste Processing Site (TPA) in Bali can no longer accommodate large amounts of waste. “TPA should be a place to process waste that cannot be processed at TPS3R or TPST,” he added.
According to Hendrawan, the Bali government needs to improve the waste management system from upstream to downstream, including strengthening waste separation infrastructure at the household and industrial levels.
Meanwhile, Professor of Natural Resource Economics at Udayana University, I Made Sudarma, also reminded that waste management policies must involve all parties.
“Waste separated through the 3R concept at TPS3R and TPST will reduce the volume of waste sent to the TPA,” he said. Sudarma also suggested that waste that cannot be recycled should be processed into fuel or energy through technologies like Waste to Energy (WTE).
Koster also plans to close the Suwung TPA in the near future. According to the Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, the Suwung TPA will be transformed from an open dumping system into a more environmentally friendly management system.
“The government is committed to ending open dumping of waste with the aim of creating a harmonious relationship with the environment and culture,” Hanif said.
Sudarma added, “Waste should start being separated at the waste generation point, such as households, industries, or offices.”
In this context, the application of a reward and punishment system becomes important to drive change.
“Reward for those who comply with the rules, punishment for those who do not,” Sudarma stated.
With rewards for successful efforts and sanctions for failure, it is hoped that both the community and industry players will become more aware of the importance of source-based waste management.
Hendrawan believes this system could motivate villages and industries to improve waste management, although further evaluation of its effectiveness is needed.
With various policies and efforts already in place, Bali is expected to overcome the waste issues that have long been a significant challenge for the environment and tourism.
Sources: Detikbali, Tirto.id
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