Bali’s Cleanliness Initiatives Earn Praise from Global Tourists

Bali’s Cleanliness Initiatives Earn Praise from Global Tourists

Jakarta: Indonesia’s popular tourist destination, Bali, has banned plastic bottles starting Monday (February 2025) as part of efforts to curb plastic pollution.

Bali, which produces around 300,000 tons of plastic waste annually, fails to collect more than half of it. Among this, 33,000 tons of plastic waste flows directly into the island’s rivers and water bodies.

Under the new policy, the use of plastic bottles has been banned in government offices and educational institutions. Bali’s regional secretary, Dewa Made Indra, stated, "We hope this policy will be implemented responsibly by all relevant parties so that Bali can become a green and sustainable island."

Teachers have also been instructed to set an example for students by encouraging the use of reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones.

In recent years, Bali’s plastic waste problem has gained international attention. During the monsoon season, waste from Java and other regions gets carried to Bali’s shores by wind and rain. Last month, videos of "trash waves" at Jimbaran Beach went viral on social media, marking yet another annual occurrence.

Indonesia’s Environment Minister, Hanif Faisal Nurofiq, participated in Bali’s beach clean-up drives twice last month. Ratna Hendratmoko, head of the Natural Resources Conservation Center, stated, "This is urgent for environmental sustainability, and since Bali is a crucial tourist hub, we want to show the world that Indonesia is committed to solving the plastic waste management problem."

In 2024, Bali welcomed over 6.3 million international tourists, making up nearly half of Indonesia’s total foreign tourist arrivals. In 2019, the Bali government became the first Indonesian province to ban single-use plastics.

Under the latest policy, government officials and employees are required to use their own reusable water bottles. The head of Bali’s forestry and environment agency, I Made Rentin, stated, "Our staff is committed to complying with this new policy. For now, we will strengthen its implementation at the government level."