Serangan Island is about to become one of Bali’s hottest tourism destinations.
As the Kura-Kura Special Economic Zone continues to be developed, more and more visitors are learning about this traditional yet innovative fishing community on the Denpasar coast.
Serangan Traditional Village have been working with PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID), has presented an innovative solution for managing plastic waste. The issue of waste management in Bali, especially within the Denpasar area, is no secret.
Yet, this forward-thinking and innovative community is working together to ensure that their environment is preserved for many more generations to come, as well as creating new ways to generate income for the area.
The Serangan Traditional Village has been supported by BTID and PT Nukari Kriya Raya to establish a project called Angen Bali, a plastic waste processing center where locally generated trash is not only recycled but given a second life. Speaking to reporters Angen Bali team member Gede Agastia, explained the concept “Angen was created to manage waste. We’re not against plastic use, but we’re here to provide a solution to this problem.”
He added “To all people, both in Bali and Indonesia, please sort your waste properly at home and when traveling. This way, we can all protect the environment.”
Every day, Angen Bali receives an average of 8 kilograms of plastic waste collected from around Serangan. Instead of ending up in landfills or being washed out to sea, the plastic is sorted, processed, and then transformed into creative products. From household items and interior decor to functional artwork, all of the products demonstrate that sustainability can go hand in hand with community empowerment.
Speaking to reporters Wayan Darmaja, the Community Relations Officer for PT Nukari Kriya Raya explained how the community is encouraged to participate in the program in new ways. “Previously, we used a barter system. BTID sponsored us to provide rice. The rice was exchanged for plastic waste brought in by the community. Now, we buy it from the community.”
Zakki Hakim, Head of Communications at BTID, told reporters “This collaboration isn’t just about waste management, but also about changing the way we view plastic. At Kura Kura Bali, we believe collaboration is key to creating a real impact on the environment and society.”
This is no quaint handmade recycling initiative. The products created by the community at Angen Bali are functional, innovative and incredibly stylish. From garden tables and chairs, to footstools, presentation podiums, phone and tablet holders, to tripods and easels, these designs are bold in colour and make a statement in any given space.
Similar initiatives to transform plastic waste into functional furniture are in effect across the island. Local NGO Sungai Watch recently launched Sungai Design, where products made from reclaimed plastic trash are available for sale.
Following the recent announcement that Bali’s largest open landfill Suwung TPA, will finally be closed following years of attempts, Sungai Watch shared updates on their work with local officials to create long term solutions to the island’s waste management issues.
Sungai Watch shared “After 40 years of operation, Bali’s largest landfill, Suwung, has officially stopped accepting organic waste as of August 1, 2025. From now on, only residual and non-organic waste will be sent there.”
They added “This decision marks a turning point. Bali can no longer rely on landfills as the final answer to waste. Communities must take more responsibility for managing their waste at the source.”
Noting “A few days ago, Made Rentin, Head of the Bali Forestry and Environmental Agency, visited our sorting station in Braban, Bali to discuss this urgent issue. He shared that Suwung is on track for a full closure by December 2025, while still temporarily accepting residual waste.
With communities like Serangan Island, already working with businesses and government agencies to tackle waste management on a local scale, there are increasing hopes that Bali is starting to build the momentum necessary to enact mass, island-wide changes in effective and long-lasting ways.
Serangan Island, also known as turtle island, is home to one of Bali’s biggest turtle conservation centres. The stunning marine creature is an icon of the community and the island as a tourist destination. There are hopes that as Seranagn continues to grow as a tourist destination, more resources can be generated to support the environment, marine life, and the local community.
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Steve bm
Monday 25th of August 2025
Just going down the warung darling, oh OK take all the sampa with you you will see where to throw it but be quick I don't want malu
Steve bm
Monday 25th of August 2025
The stench from the tip must be horrendous there
Sam M
Saturday 23rd of August 2025
YOUR INICIATIVE IS A JOKE!!!! Garbage problem never going to happen in Serangan.. the villagers are to lazy to recycle..., they just do not care, check out the village rubbish everywhere.. Fix the mind set then you have a chance. Selling/buying garbage they the villagers, will just find a way to rip you off... think about over the last 10 year how many attempts to solve the habits of the village people.... so many never worked. Teach the children and fine the garbage perpitrators heavly.. that will get their attention if you enfoce the fines. THE hole village is a disgrase ... and getting worse... I know I live there ,,,,
Viktor Z
Tuesday 26th of August 2025
@Sam M,
Pathetic drunks barking biased nonsense is leading to nowhere either… Soo why are you still here, no means to buy a one way ticket back home ?
Shorty
Thursday 21st of August 2025
It's great and highly commendable. The processing ability is 8kg a day, which makes little impact on discarded rubbish. It's also restricted by the amount of recycled product it can sell.
My understanding is the process was looked at and initiated on a wider scale. But has been stopped as it isn't commercially viable.
In reality banning certain products with heavy pursued penalties would be the best alternative. Return deposits/buy back don't work.
They've been tried and failed. Not because of any price offered. It just created a plastic mountain.
An area which could perhaps have benefit? Old car tyres are being shredded and added to asphalt as a bulking and strengthening agent and to reduce costs. In previous times horsehair was routinely added to plaster for the same reasons.
Could there be a similar function for shredded plastic?
Shorty
Tuesday 26th of August 2025
@Dominic,
Incentives have been tried here and failed. The problem was no large scale recycling plants. The 'empties just piled up when payment and collection stopped. To be successful there needs to be a market or use for the recycled material
Dominic
Monday 25th of August 2025
@Shorty, One of the issues us the western mindset to attempting to resolve all types of issues,wherever we go.
The manufacturers of plastic bottles should be forced to install recycling facilities at supermarkets that sell their products,the bottles can ve recycled by the "shopper" and a token dispensed,which can ve put towards the next purchase The same system of recycling can be installed alongside plastic bottle recycling,for glass bottles and drink cans. I appreciate one cannot compare Indonesia with Germany,for example,but you very rarely see any waste from any if the things I have mentioned. In fact it us very common to see people rummaging litter bins and the like,to recover bottles,can and plastic bottles to recycle and collect tokens towards purchase at the supermarkets. It's technology that will change the waste issue not the local mindset, alone.
People in Germany are persuaded to take care of the environment including recycling centers,they have been doing it for a long time,let's not forget Indonesia is an ancient society,but technology in all forms us relatively new,the modern Indonesia is only 80 years old look where Europe was 80 years ago. Happy to join a steering group with like minded people to attempt at improving the environment. And please for the knockers,I am not interested in negative comments.
Thommo
Thursday 21st of August 2025
"He added “To all people, both in Bali and Indonesia, please sort your waste properly at home and when traveling. This way, we can all protect the environment.” Good message that will never be listened to in the villages let alone followed. Easier to burn it on the roadside or throw it in the drain, creek or river. I find illegal rubbish dumping sites weekly and I'm not searching for them. Easy to develop a sense of where it will be done as you travel around. And beach cleaning robots deployed across Bali. Yep pull the other leg. A publicity stunt by high end resorts and beach clubs to make them more credible. Bali Glamping resort uses staff to clean up the beach directly in front. Then dumps it round the side out of sight of customers. The rest of the immediate beach around it they don't give a toss about. Be the same at every higher end resort around the island.