Bali is often envisioned as a paradise with its stunning beaches, clear waters, expansive rice terraces, and thick jungles. However, the reality in many areas is starkly different.
The island has been grappling with a significant waste problem, particularly along popular tourist beaches like Kuta, Seminyak, Regian, and Jimbaran, especially from October through March.
This seasonal issue is primarily caused by strong winds and high tides that carry trash—including plastic and other waste—onto shore from nearby transport ships.
The situation is worsened by open landfills on the island, which, as they become more overstuffed, put immense pressure on local waste management systems.
Trash tends to wash into waterways, contributing to informal dump sites that mar Bali’s scenic landscapes.
While various solutions have been introduced, reactions have ranged from enthusiasm to skepticism.
Interestingly, over the last couple of years, some of Bali’s top resorts have been experimenting with beach-cleaning robots, developed by major hotel brands.
Local officials are optimistic, hoping these advanced machines can improve beach maintenance significantly.
Alit Suppiputa, the Deputy Regent of Badon, recently visited Finns Beach Club in Kang and unveiled the Vivot Smart Beach Cleaning Robot.
This robot, which costs around $65,000, was stationed at the Beach Club for three months, and discussions are now underway regarding the future of beach management at Bali’s busiest spots.
“What we observe here is the reference we should analyze,” said Deputy Regent Sukkaputa, referencing the robot’s capabilities.
He noted that while the robot is beneficial, its potential could be maximized further, possibly sharing its resources with traditional coastal villages.
“We might be able to utilize this robotic machine more in the future to gather other types of waste,” he added.
His hope is that more businesses will consider investing in similar technology to address the island’s waste crisis.
The Bali Sun reported that this solar-powered robot operates for 2.5 hours daily, successfully clearing 180 meters of Berawa Beach and Pentac Beach.
“Since we initiated this project, we’ve managed to cut down landfill waste from 80% to 20% based on last year’s figures,” noted the director of PT Pantai Semara Nusantara, which manages Finns Beach Club.
Looking ahead, they aim for only 5% of waste to go to landfills by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, the Bali government has announced the closure of Suun TPA, the largest open landfill on the island.
Environmental groups like Mudafish have dedicated considerable effort to tackle illegal dumping and beach waste, developing new methods for recycling and reusing plastics and other inorganic materials.
Gary Benchegib, a French filmmaker residing in Indonesia, is part of Sungai Watch, an organization committed to “protecting Indonesian waterways.”
As reported by the nonprofit, they collected over 1 million kilograms of waste in 2024, organized 503 cleanups, and installed 104 trash barriers.
This brings their total since starting river cleaning in 2020 to nearly 2.8 million kilograms of waste, 1,628 cleanups, and 330 barriers.
