Enviro News Asia, Bali — Indonesia’s Minister of Environment has warned that the growing waste problem in Bali must be addressed urgently to prevent it from damaging the country’s global tourism reputation.
The statement was delivered by Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency, during a coastal clean-up activity in Jimbaran Beach, Badung Regency, Bali, on 5 March 2026.
According to Hanif, Bali serves as the international showcase of Indonesia, making environmental cleanliness—particularly along its beaches—an important factor shaping the country’s image in the eyes of the world.
“Bali is the showcase of Indonesia, and its beaches reflect the face of our nation. When the beaches are clean, Indonesia is respected as a country that cares about the environment. But when they are polluted by waste, our reputation is also affected,” he said.
As one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, Bali currently faces a serious waste management challenge. Hanif stressed that Indonesia must achieve its national waste management target of 63.41 percent by 2026 through concrete action in strategic regions, including Bali.
He also highlighted projections showing that Indonesia’s waste generation could reach around 146,780 tons per day by 2029, emphasizing the need to strengthen waste management systems starting at the household level.
Hanif urged the acceleration of waste sorting practices in households through composting, the expansion of community recycling initiatives such as waste banks, and stricter waste separation systems in tourism facilities, including hotels, restaurants, and cafés. These measures aim to prevent waste from overwhelming landfills and polluting the environment.
During his visit to Bali, Hanif also inspected several community-based waste management facilities. These included the TPST Tahura 1 in Denpasar, the waste management program in Kesiman Petilan Village, initiatives in Bongkasa Pertiwi Village, and the TPS 3R Pudak Mesari facility in Darmasaba, Badung.
At these sites, the minister observed how waste separation is implemented at the household and community levels. While Bali has made some progress, he noted that major challenges remain and must be addressed more quickly.
Hanif also expressed appreciation to the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) for providing a wood chipper machine to the Badung Regency Government to strengthen waste processing capacity in tourism areas.
He emphasized that strong collaboration between the central government, local authorities, businesses, and communities is essential to solve the waste issue.
Through such cooperation, Bali is expected to become a national model for sustainable waste management while protecting Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems and supporting the government’s environmental campaign known as the Indonesia ASRI Movement—Aman, Sehat, Resik, dan Indah. (*)
