- Bali is facing a significant waste crisis after its main Suwung landfill stopped accepting organic waste from 1 April, disrupting garbage collection across the Indonesian tourist hotspot.
- The Suwung landfill, which has been operating since 1984 and is severely over capacity, is scheduled to shut completely from 1 August, having previously handled up to 1,800 tonnes of waste daily.
- The new restrictions, aimed at encouraging waste processing at source, have led to residents burning rubbish or dumping it on roadsides and in waterways due to a lack of fully operational alternative disposal methods.
- The accumulation of waste is negatively impacting Bali's vital tourism sector, with rubbish visible in popular resort areas like Kuta, raising concerns about visitor experience and Indonesia's international reputation.
- Long-term solutions like a waste-to-energy facility are facing years of delays.
IN FULL
Garbage piles up in Bali after restrictions on resort island’s largest landfill disrupt collection
