What does Bali’s biggest open landfill have to do with tourists? Well, it turns out, quite a lot. Bali’s longstanding issues with waste management are one of the first things tourists comment on if asked about their impressions of problems on the island.
With tourists contributing to tax revenue and continually being encouraged to support sustainable tourism initiatives, the problems faced at the Suwung TPA open landfill are a cause for Bali lovers everywhere, policymakers, local communities, and tourists included.
As of 1st April 2026, Bali’s biggest open landfill, Suwung TPA, stopped accepting organic waste. The landfill sits just outside Denpasar City Centre and a stone’s throw from the popular resort of Sanur. In fact, if you look closely, it is possible to see Suwung TPA as you fly in and out of Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The Suwung TPA has been a point of concern for nearly a decade. Now standing at 10 storeys high and sprawling over 32 hectares, there have been multiple failed attempts to close this waste site once and for all. The first major attempt was ahead of Bali’s hosting of the G20 Summit back in 2022. More recently, the landfill was supposed to be closed on 28th December 2025, and there were various attempts in between.
The Head of the Bali Forestry and Environment Agency (DKLH), I Made Dwi Arbani, told reporters, “The Bali Provincial Government is accelerating the strengthening of the source-based waste management system as a follow-up to the direction of the Minister of Environment regarding the operational adjustments of the Suwung Landfill, which will take effect on April 1, 2026.”
The implication of this is that households, businesses, and communities that send waste to Suwung TPA must now sort their waste at source. No longer can organic waste and non-organic waste be sent to the landfill mixed. The site is set to be permanently closed on 1st August 2026.
Arbani explained, “So far, organic waste has dominated the landfill. This condition has the potential to produce flammable methane gas, unpleasant odors, environmental pollution due to leachate, and accelerate landfill filling.”
Suwung TPA accepts waste from across Denpasar and Badung Regency, including from top resort areas such as Sanur, Nusa Dua, Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak. The Badung Regency Government has developed 42 TPS3R units (recycling depots) with a processing capacity of around 52.2 tons per day, and has distributed 141,719 composter bags, 3,570 composter bins, and 16,053 modern waste bins to the community as a means of processing organic waste at the source level.
Similarly, the Denpasar City Government is strengthening village and sub-district-based waste management and has opened 23 TPS3R units with a processing capacity of around 72.83 tons per day.
Arbani noted, “In addition, 5,002 units of waste processing facilities have been distributed to the community, including 253 compost bins, as well as the development of 283 modern waste bins and 177 waste processing tanks.”
While work has been done to create a systemic shift away from open landfill waste processing to recycling and composting, there are concerns that these solutions will be insufficient in both the short and long term.
Last year, waste collectors from across Badung Regency and Denpasar gathered in their trucks in peaceful protest at the news that the Suwung TPA was to be closed. They argued that the solutions were insufficient to process the volumes of waste at play.
In light of the protests last year, and as waste collectors must now adjust to the ban on organic waste, Denpasar Police have now deployed officers at the entry to Suwung TPA. Denpasar Police Public Relations Chief, First Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, told reporters that the presence of officers on the ground aims to maintain public safety and peace.
He confirmed that security efforts are focused on a humane approach to prevent friction and security disturbances.
He told reporters, “We deployed joint personnel to regulate traffic flow, control the crowds, and ensure that activities proceeded in an orderly manner.” Adding “With the joint personnel’s preparedness, it is hoped that the situation on the ground can be well controlled and comfort maintained.”
There are concerns that waste could be dumped on the streets outside of Suwung TPA if it is not permitted into the site. In years gone by, when the landfill was temporarily closed, this did happen. There are also concerns that garbage will be dumped into the island’s rivers, an issue that is already noted by the Head of the Water Resources Division of the Denpasar City Public Works and Housing Agency, Ketut Ngurah Artha Jaya.
Jaya told reporters on Monday, “There’s definitely been an increase. The amount of waste we collect from the river can now reach around 7 tons per day.” He explained, “The waste is left in front of the house for too long before being collected, and maggots appear. Finally, some residents choose to throw it into the river… It’s not just organic. It’s all mixed, usually in the form of plastic packages.”
Tourists travelling in Bali must be aware that the island’s waste management issues are longstanding, and work is being undertaken to create the systemic changes necessary.
There is a chance that the closure of Suwung TPA may result in waste being dumped and disposed of in new areas. Though Bali’s committed to maintaining its standing as a world-class tourism destination, solutions will be implemented quickly.
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.
Discover more from The Bali Sun
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.