Minister urges waste reform in Bali to safeguard Indonesia's tourism

  Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq emphasized the importance of Bali reforming its waste management system to support environmental sustainability and maintain Indonesia’s image and appeal as a tourism destination.

In a statement cited in Jakarta on Friday, he argued that Indonesia’s global reputation partly depends on the cleanliness of beaches and coastal areas in Bali, which is widely known as a tropical haven for tourists from around the world.

“Bali is a window into Indonesia, and its beaches reflect the face of our nation. If the beaches are clean, Indonesia can gain recognition as a pro-environment country. In contrast, waste pollution on beaches can stain our reputation,” Nurofiq said.

He made the remarks during a beach cleanup in Jimbaran, Badung District, on Thursday (March 5).

In this regard, the minister confirmed that Bali is currently facing a waste emergency requiring extra attention. He therefore said undertaking concrete efforts in strategic regions like Bali is essential for Indonesia to achieve its target of managing 63.41 percent of waste by 2026.

He further noted that Indonesia is projected to generate 146,780 tonnes of waste daily by 2029, prompting stakeholders to adopt a more holistic approach to the problem.

Nurofiq urged the government and residents of Bali to play a more active role in tackling waste issues by promoting household-level composting initiatives, expanding the waste bank network, and ensuring reliable sorting systems at tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

“These efforts are intended to prevent overcapacity in landfills and curb environmental pollution,” he explained.

During his Bali visit, the minister also reviewed several source-based waste management facilities, including the Tahura 1 Integrated Waste Processing Plant in Denpasar City and a reduce-reuse-recycle site in Badung.