While Bali is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, a looming environmental crisis lurks beneath its picturesque surface.
The island produces an astonishing 1.6 million tonnes of waste annually, with plastic accounting for 330,000 tonnes of that total. Inefficient waste management practices mean that a significant portion of this waste goes uncollected, often making its way into rivers and, ultimately, the ocean. This pollution jeopardises Bali’s fragile ecosystems and poses a threat to the livelihoods of local communities as well as the tourism sector that plays a crucial role in the island’s economy.
In response to this escalating issue, a groundbreaking initiative — the Community Waste Project — has emerged. This coalition of forward-thinking businesses is determined to tackle Bali’s waste problem and reduce its dependency on landfills. The project is a collaborative effort between prominent players such as Mexicola Group, Potato Head Family, and Total Bangun Persada, along with partners like Brunch Club, Finns, Kynd, Lemongrass, and Peppers Seminyak. Together, they are setting a new standard for sustainable practices in Bali’s hospitality sector.
Isabella Rowell, CEO of Mexicola Group, emphasises the importance of collective responsibility: “I believe it’s our duty to support this initiative and lead by example. We have a unique ability to speak to and educate our staff and the next generation through our venues and our ethos. We are conscious of the legacy we want to leave behind.”
She adds, “There’s no hiding the fact that whilst hospitality and tourism are the bloodline of this island, they are also its biggest environmental downfall. It is our responsibility as a collective to drive this movement and develop this infrastructure for the future of this island and its people.”
From Waste to Worth
The Community Waste Project is driven by a compelling vision: to turn Bali’s waste crisis into an opportunity for sustainability and innovation. Slated to open in October 2024, the project’s centre will occupy 2,000 square metres next to Suwung, Bali’s largest landfill in Denpasar, backed by an investment of $400,000. This state-of-the-art facility will not only drastically reduce landfill waste but will also convert various waste types—organic, inorganic, and garden—into valuable resources.
Employing advanced composting, recycling, and upcycling techniques, the centre embodies the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recreate, and Regenerate. By transforming waste into practical products, such as compost and upcycled plastic panels, the Community Waste Project is pioneering a circular economy model that serves both the environment and local businesses.
Participating members will have access to these upcycled products at cost price, making sustainability accessible and affordable for everyone involved. As a non-profit venture, the initiative promises to reinvest all profits back into the community, supporting the construction of additional waste management centres across Bali.
Tackling Waste Mismanagement
Bali’s waste management system is currently stretched to its limits, with 52% of the island’s waste mismanaged. Hotels and businesses contribute around 13% of Bali’s total waste, much of which ends up in landfills.
Thus, the Community Waste Project emerges with a bold mission: to transform the way waste is handled across Bali. The initiative sets an ambitious goal of reducing landfill waste from participating businesses from over 50% to just 5%.
Ronald Akili, Founder of Potato Head Family, highlights this issue. “Since 2016, we have made significant strides in addressing this problem. We’ve reduced our waste to landfill from over 50% to less than 3% through diligent efforts in waste management, recycling, and upcycling.”
He adds, “Together, we can make Bali zero waste,” explaining how the Potato Head Family has developed a neighbourhood Waste Centre, employing locals and reinvesting profits into social funding. “Our vision is to replicate this model across other neighbourhoods in Bali, with the ultimate goal of making Bali go zero-waste to landfill.”
To achieve this, the project places a strong emphasis on waste separation right at the source. The Potato Head Family will spearhead training efforts, guiding partner businesses in effectively sorting waste into organic and non-organic categories. Appointed eco-champions within each establishment will play a pivotal role in ensuring this sorting process is carried out efficiently before the waste is transported to the facility. Here, organic materials will be composted, while non-organic items, including HDPE plastics, Styrofoam, and glass bottles, will be prepared for recycling or upcycling.
Data collection is another cornerstone of the project’s strategy. Each partner business will weigh their waste daily, providing essential insights into production patterns and enabling them to track their progress on the sustainability front. Materials that cannot be processed will be handed over to local recyclers, further ensuring that as little waste as possible makes its way into Bali’s already overwhelmed landfills.
The Community Waste Project will roll out in four phases:
- Phase 1: Partner businesses receive training on accurate waste management and sorting;
- Phase 2 (October 14th): Waste collection from partners begins, with further separation at the Community Waste Project facility;
- Phase 3: Separated waste is transformed into valuable products like compost and upcycled panels for the hospitality sector;
- Phase 4: Profits from the initiative will be reinvested into the local community and used to fund the construction of additional waste management centres across Bali.
A Model for the Future
As the Community Waste Project progresses, its success could serve as a model for similar initiatives across Indonesia. With the potential for expansion and the expected participation of at least 10 more businesses in 2024, this project is poised to become a beacon of sustainability, not only for Bali but for regions across the country facing similar environmental challenges.
Through innovation, collaboration, and dedication, the Community Waste Project is setting the stage for a cleaner, greener Bali —an island where tourism and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.