Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq held a meeting with the Governor of Bali, the Mayor of Denpasar, the Regent of Badung, and the Regent of Bangli to discuss various options for managing waste from Denpasar and Badung following the planned closure of the Suwung Landfill.
The discussion focused on the readiness of local governments to face the closure of the regional landfill and to ensure continuity in waste management.
Speaking in Denpasar on Monday, the Minister stated that he had carefully observed the preparations made by regional leaders in Bali in responding to national policies on waste governance.
According to Antaranews, “I listened to the preparations of the Governor of Bali, the Mayor of Denpasar, the Regent of Badung, and the Regent of Bangli in responding to the government’s enforcement of waste management governance in Bali,” he said.
He further explained that TPA Suwung is planned to be transformed into a waste-to-energy facility, but the construction process is expected to take approximately two years. “TPA Suwung will become a waste-to-energy landfill that is being planned and constructed, but since it will take two years, discussions were held on how to address the interim period,” he added.
One of the temporary solutions discussed was the use of Bangli Landfill (TPA Bangli), located in Landih Village, to accommodate residual waste from Denpasar and Badung, particularly waste that cannot be processed independently by the two regions.
The Minister therefore instructed the Bali Provincial Government to prepare the necessary infrastructure at TPA Bangli within two months. As a result, starting on March 1, 2026, when TPA Suwung is fully closed, residual waste from Denpasar and Badung can be redirected to Bangli.
According to Kompas.com. “So the Bali Provincial Government only has two months to upgrade TPA Bangli so it can be temporarily used while waiting for waste processing into electrical energy, although the transportation costs from Denpasar and Badung to Bangli will be expensive,” he said after directly inspecting the Bangli landfill.
Despite the decision to divert waste from TPA Suwung to TPA Bangli, the Minister emphasized that the Denpasar City Government and the Badung Regency Government must continue to optimize waste processing at the source. Maximizing source-based waste management, as well as the utilization of TPS3R and TPST facilities, was described as an unavoidable necessity.
“We have seen many practices in villages, so maximizing waste resolution upstream has become inevitable, where we are able to build a community culture that understands waste management. I apologize if I am mistaken, but these are steps that must be taken by the government,” Hanif Faisol stated.
Meanwhile, Bali Governor Wayan Koster explained that TPA Bangli is regulated under a regional regulation that allows interregional cooperation, making it legally possible to assist Denpasar and Badung.
However, he stressed that not all waste from the two regions would be allowed to be disposed of there. Starting March 1, 2026, only a portion of residual waste may be transported to Bangli.
“First, optimize the various efforts that have already been carried out by the Mayor of Denpasar and the Regent of Badung in their respective areas, such as modern teba, TPS3R, TPST, and other approaches, so that as much waste as possible is handled locally, and then the remainder can be accommodated at TPA Bangli,” he said.
The postponement of the closure of TPA Suwung until February 28, 2026, has sparked both support and opposition among the public. Denpasar City has even begun preparing to send its waste to TPA Landih in Bangli.
Responding to the situation, Denpasar City DPRD member Agus Wirajaya urged the Bali Provincial Government to take over coordination of waste management following the closure of TPA Suwung.
“As a consequence of the plan to close the Suwung regional landfill, it is only appropriate that the Bali Provincial Government takes over the coordination of waste management resulting from the closure of TPA Suwung,” he said on Friday (December 26, 2025).
According to Agus, coordination at the provincial level should involve regional heads, technical implementers at the local level, and the DPRD of each region.
He emphasized that discussions must be holistic, covering the mapping of waste volumes produced by each region, the minimum waste management measures that must be implemented by each regency or city, and the policies adopted by the provincial government to address obstacles faced by local governments.
“All of these steps are intended to clarify the waste management pattern ahead of the closure of TPA Suwung,” he added.
Agus also delivered strong criticism to ensure that the closure plan does not become a one-sided commitment without concrete solutions. He warned the Governor and his administration not to leave regencies and cities to struggle independently, which could trigger sectoral ego.
“It is not enough for the Governor to commit to closing it while leaving the resulting problems to each regency or city, which would then lead to sectoral ego in handling the waste issue,” he stated.
He further noted that, in reality, no region has been willing to serve as a regional landfill except TPA Suwung in Denpasar, which for decades has received waste from other regencies across Bali.
Sources : Antaranews, Kompas.com.
Feat Image : via AntaraNews/Ni Luh Rhismawati