Bali’s natural beauty is world-renowned, but beneath its pristine beaches lies a mounting environmental crisis. The island produces a staggering 1.6 million tonnes of waste each year, including 330,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Due to ineffective waste management, much of this waste goes uncollected, with significant amounts ending up in rivers and ultimately in the ocean, threatening Bali’s ecosystem, the livelihood of its communities and the tourism industry on which it depends.

In response to this growing crisis, a coalition of forward-thinking businesses has come together to launch Community Waste Project, a revolutionary initiative aimed at drastically reducing the island’s landfill waste and setting a new standard for sustainability in Indonesia. 

Spearheaded by Mexicola Group, Potato Head Family and Total Bangun Persada, in collaboration with Brunch Club, Finns, Kynd, Lemongrass, and Peppers Seminyak, this innovative initiative, set to open in October 2024, will see a 2,000-square-metre waste facility open adjacent to Bali’s largest landfill, Suwung, in Bali’s capital city of Denpasar. 

Turning Waste into Opportunity

Rooted in the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recreate, and Regenerate, Community Waste Project pioneers a sustainable model for Indonesia’s hospitality sector—reducing environmental impact while transforming waste into valuable products for the industry. With an initial investment of $400,000, the centre will process organic, inorganic, and garden waste through advanced sorting, composting, recycling, and upcycling methods. By turning waste into practical products for the hospitality industry—such as compost and upcycled plastic panels—the facility aims to create a circular economy model that benefits both the environment and local businesses.

Participating members of Community Waste Project will have access to these upcycled products at cost price, ensuring sustainability is both accessible and affordable. 

A Bold Mission: Reduce Bali’s Landfill Waste to Just 5%

Bali’s waste management system is overwhelmed, with 52% of the island’s waste mismanaged. Hotels and businesses are estimated to contribute around 13% of Bali’s total waste, much of which ends up in landfills. Community Waste Project aims to change this by drastically reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills—cutting waste from participating businesses from over 50% to an ambitious target of just 5%.

Critical to achieving this goal is waste separation at the source. Potato Head Family will lead efforts on this front, guiding partner businesses on how to correctly sort waste into organic and non-organic categories. Appointed eco-champions at each business will then ensure that waste is sorted effectively, before it is picked up by Community Waste Project to take to the centre for optimal processing.

From this point, organic waste will be used for composting or pig feed, while non-organic materials such as HDPE plastics, styrofoam, and glass bottles will be sorted for recycling or upcycling. Any non-processable materials will be handed over to local recyclers, ensuring that as little waste as possible ends up in landfills. 

As a non-profit venture, all profits from the sale of upcycled products will be reinvested back into the local community and used to fund the construction of additional waste management centres across Bali. The project will also collect data daily to track each business’s waste production, providing crucial insights to help businesses adjust their sustainability efforts.

As the waste separation process improves, the project—led by Desa Potato Head—will review its success. If effective, it plans to expand the initiative, with at least 10 hospitality businesses expected to join in 2024. The long-term goal is to create a sustainable waste management model that can be replicated across Indonesia, where many regions face similar environmental challenges.

Quote from Ronald Akili, Co-founder and CEO at Desa Potato Head

“We began by cleaning up our own house, our own backyard, and learning to manage our waste to get as close to zero waste as possible. Yet, making a significant change in Bali requires the power of community coming together. We’re excited that so many of our neighbours are part of this collective, and we hope this work inspires others to join the journey.

Together, we can make Bali zero waste.”

Quote from Isabella Rowel, CEO at Mexicola Group

“I believe it’s our duty to support this initiative and lead by example. We have a unique ability to speak to and educate our staff and the next generation through our venues and our ethos. 

We are conscious of the legacy we want to leave behind. 

There’s no hiding the fact that whilst hospitality and tourism are the bloodline of this island, they are also its biggest environmental downfall. It is our responsibility as a collective to drive this movement and develop this infrastructure for the future of this island and its people.”

https://communitywasteproject.co/