Bali Launches Island-Wide Cleanup Following Presidential Criticism
DENPASAR – Bali has launched a major beach clean up initiative in response to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s recent criticism of the island’s growing waste problem. The response includes mobilizing students, establishing rapid-response task forces, and reinforcing existing waste management policies.
On February 3, hundreds of personnel from the Bali Police and the local military joined students and volunteers to collect rubbish from two of the island’s most popular tourist beaches: Kuta and Kedonganan in Badung Regency. Additional clean up operations were also conducted at Delod Berawah Beach in Jembrana Regency and Saba Beach in Gianyar, successfully removing several tonnes of waste from the beaches.
Bali Police spokesperson Ariasandy said that authorities invited the public to join the beach clean up program because community involvement is crucial in preserving the island’s marine ecosystem. “Today’s activity aims to raise awareness about environmental protection and to create clean, healthy and welcoming beaches for visitors,” Mr. Ariasandy said. “Keeping the beaches clean not only benefits the environment but also supports economic activity and has a positive impact on tourism,” he added.
Presidential Rebuke Sparks Action
The cleanup efforts were directly prompted by President Subianto’s public admonishment during a national government coordination meeting on February 2. He relayed a complaint from a foreign diplomat who described Bali as “so dirty now” and “not nice,” framing the pollution as a national embarrassment and a threat to the island’s crucial tourism economy.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said that a special task force will be established to tackle the problem at Kuta Beach, following Mr. Subianto’s criticism. “We are grateful for the President’s attention to Bali’s beach rubbish issue, especially at Kuta Beach,” Mr. Koster said. “We will immediately establish a dedicated task force at Kuta Beach to respond quickly whenever marine debris arrives from outside Bali. The goal is to have the beach clean again within one hour.”
In addition to the task force, Mr. Koster emphasized that regular community clean up activities will be held at Kuta Beach, actively involving local residents and students to ensure the beach remains clean and welcoming for visitors.
A Growing Waste Crisis
Bali has been grappling with a growing waste crisis in recent years, with unmanaged garbage frequently contributing to environmental problems such as flooding, even in popular tourist areas. In 2024, the island generated 1.2 million tonnes of waste, with the majority coming from tourist hubs such as Denpasar, Gianyar and Badung.
Governor Koster previously noted that nearly all of Bali’s landfill sites have reached their capacity, with single-use plastics making up the largest share of the waste. A 2019 study revealed that only around 48 percent of Bali’s waste is properly managed through recycling or landfilling. A significant portion of collected waste never reaches recycling facilities or the island’s 10 official landfills, resulting in an estimated 33,000 tonnes of plastic entering Bali’s waterways each year.
Existing Initiatives and Future Plans
To address Bali’s mounting waste problem, Mr. Koster launched several initiatives in 2025, including bans on single-use plastic bags, cups, straws and styrofoam in businesses, government offices, schools, hotels, restaurants, markets and places of worship. The production and distribution of water bottles smaller than one liter has also been prohibited.
Businesses, government offices, schools, hotels, restaurants, markets and places of worship are also required to sort their waste, compost organic materials and recycle inorganic waste, either independently or through third-party services, so that only residual waste ends up in landfills.
Looking ahead, Bali plans to construct its first waste-to-energy facility, with construction starting in March and operations expected in 2027.
National Expansion of Cleanup Efforts
Following President Subianto’s criticism of Bali’s beach waste problem, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhani announced that the ministry will expand beach clean up initiatives to popular tourist destinations across Indonesia. “The Ministry of Tourism has been running the Clean Tourism Movement since 2025. Now, the program is being strengthened and elevated as part of the President’s priority agenda,” she said on February 4.
