Turning the tide on waste in Bali’s coastal communities

PICTURED: Local women have been hired and trained to visit households and businesses to educate residents on proper waste practices as part of the plastic free Bali initiative.

Bali’s growing waste problem has been in the news recently due to its massive ocean debris and plastic pollution. Now, dedicated Rotarians from Bali and Australia are working together to create meaningful and lasting change.

Plastic Free Bali is a forward-thinking project introducing sustainable waste management practices across four villages surrounding the iconic West Bali National Park. This is Bali’s only national park, and just offshore lies Menjangan Island – a place of spiritual significance, with many Hindu temples and a world-renowned diving destination with crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs.

The project is a partnership between the Rotary clubs of Bali Seminyak, Bali, Woodend, Vic and Perth, WA, local environmental NGO Yayasan Biosfir Indonesia, the villages of Pemuteran, Perjarakan, Sumberkima, Sumberklampok and local waste management facilities.

Funding has been provided in part by a Rotary Foundation global grant.

The grant is being used to shift community attitudes towards sustainable waste management. Local waste facilities have been cleaned, renovated and expanded, and staff trained in waste sorting and making quality compost. Recyclable materials are now sold for recycling, while organic waste is turned into compost for local farmers.

New waste collection points have been installed across the villages, with trained staff collecting rubbish in collaboration with village authorities.

Ten local women have been hired and trained to visit households and businesses to educate residents on proper waste practices. Around 1,500 households and many businesses will be visited three times each to ensure lasting change.

Disposable nappies have been identified as a major environmental concern. The women now work with maternal health centres to promote reusable nappies and correct disposal methods.

Over the two-year program, more than 2,500 villagers are expected to be trained.

Partnerships are further strengthening the project’s impact. An Adopt a Street program sees local tourism businesses and residents sponsor collection points and services.

Long-term sustainability remains a priority. Households and small businesses are encouraged to pay small fees for waste collection, while medium and large businesses deliver waste directly to facilities and cover processing costs.

Community participation continues to grow, with residents joining clean-up days at illegal dumping sites and along roadsides.

Beyond environmental benefits, the project is empowering the women team members through training and employment, while supporting local suppliers.

Interest is growing across Bali’s waste management sector, including from government departments keen to learn from the project’s success.

Further fundraising is expanding the program. In 2025, the Rotary Club of Bali Seminyak raised funds to purchase a new waste collection truck for Sumberklampok and to help renovate its waste facility.

With strong commitment from all involved, the project is well on its way to delivering positive and lasting change.

PICTURED: Plastic Free Bali Project Manager Dwi Arsani and Education and Training Officer Mita Tri Kusuma. 

Meet Kadek Dwi Arsani, Project Manager, Plastic Free Bali

Dwi is the second born in her Balinese family and grew up in the small town of Pejarakan. She attended school and college, completing a diploma in hospitality studies. With an English language teacher for an uncle, English came naturally to Dwi, which also helped her find work in tourism.

Her first job was in the busy Pemuteran dive centre, and it was here that she met Rosa Halldórsdóttir, an Icelandic park ranger, diver and environmental advocate, who invited her to join a sustainable waste management program at the Biosfir Indonesia Foundation.

Dwi quickly became a leader in education and conservation, attending elementary schools to teach small children in a fun way about the environment and managing waste. She gained confidence in public speaking, starting with audiences of children and overseas tourists, progressing to dealing with government officials and Rotarians in Balinese, Indonesian and English.

Building Trust

Plastic Free Bali has faced many challenges: the project covers a large area, each village has its own unique characteristics including climate, different industries and waste profile, and there are many diverse stakeholders. An early hurdle was gaining the trust and interest of the villagers to participate. Dwi’s friendly personality has helped open initial conversations with the village women on topics such as reducing disposable nappy use.

A year into the project, Dwi notes how trust from the community has grown now that they can introduce the villagers to viable waste sorting facilities and the education team’s knowledge is respected.

Dwi is proud of the progress the project is making. With more waste management projects being implemented across Bali, she notes that this is the only program that brings both waste management infrastructure and education together. This project also provides empowerment, new skills and friendships to the dedicated group of women education leaders.

Dwi’s busy schedule involves travelling between the office and the villages on her motorbike, visiting the waste sorting facilities, local businesses and households with the education team, preparing reports and education materials, and holding team meetings with the education team. Working together she feels the community is starting to get one step ahead in dealing with this significant problem.

“I’m really interested in continuous learning, especially improving my skills in waste management and conservation, as well as building more professional connections in the future,” she says.