JakartaPost-May 31, 2025
A 2019 study revealed that Bali generates 1.6 million tons of trash per year with around 303,000 tons of plastic waste. However, only some 48 percent of Bali’s waste is responsibly managed either through recycling or landfill. Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has announced plans to ban the production of water bottles smaller than 1 liter, in an effort to address the island’s growing waste problem, which has been linked to several environmental disasters. On Thursday, Koster summoned bottled water producers to a meeting in Denpasar to announce a new policy banning the production of water bottles smaller than 1 liter, which is set to take effect in January next year. “To preserve Bali’s environment and ecosystem, the production of bottled water under one liter must stop,” Koster said, as quoted by Kompas.com. “I am ordering an immediate end to production, and businesses must sell off their remaining stock so that, by next year, no bottles under 1 liter are in circulation across Bali.” Wayan said that nearly all landfill sites in Bali have reached full capacity, with the majority of the waste consisting of single-use plastics, particularly water bottles. “Bali attracts many tourists because of its beautiful ecosystem and culture. If the environment is damaged, no one will want to come here anymore, no tourists, no investors. Without tourism, there will be no economic growth,” he added. Wayan said the policy had received the full support of the central government, saying that Bali would serve as a model for other regions in adopting environmentally friendly policies. A 2019 study revealed that Bali generates 1.6 million tons of trash per year with around 303,000 tons of plastic waste. However, only some 48 percent of Bali’s waste is responsibly managed either through recycling or landfill. A significant portion of collected waste never reaches a recycling facility or any of Bali’s 10 official landfills, leading to 33,000 tons of plastic leaking into waterways every year. The study also revealed that Bali’s domestic and international tourists generate 3.5 times more waste per day than residents, accounting for 13 percent of Bali’s total waste. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2025/05/31/bali-to-ban-production-of-bottled-water-under-1-liter.html.
