Mixed Waste Still Enters Denpasar’s Suwung Landfill

Denpasar — Mixed organic and inorganic waste is still entering Suwung Landfill despite scheduled disposal days by waste type, according to environmental observers on Sept. 29.

The reports say some landfill customers, including community-managed waste services and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (TPS 3R) facilities, conceal mixed loads beneath a layer of organic waste. The practice is intended to evade visual checks at the entrance, where the height and size of truck loads can limit inspection.

Why the Suwung waste rule matters to foreign residents and visitors

For people living in or visiting Denpasar, the reports point to a gap between the city’s waste-separation requirements and what reaches the landfill. Waste is expected to be sorted before collection, while landfill access is scheduled according to waste type. When mixed waste is transported anyway, organic material and other refuse remain together and require additional handling after unloading.

Catur Yuda Hariani, director of the Bali Center for Environmental Education Foundation (PPLH Bali), said the practice involved customers from both community-managed services and TPS 3R facilities. Bali Post reported that mixed waste was found particularly on Mondays and Thursdays, the days designated for organic waste.

The reports attribute the continuing problem partly to incomplete separation by households and inadequate facilities for sorting. Organic waste buried with other waste can contribute to methane generation, while mixed loads make processing more difficult. The accounts also describe waste hidden below a visibly organic top layer, with the mixture becoming apparent when trucks are unloaded and the cargo is handled with an excavator.

Sources

• Bali Post — Indonesian regional news outlet
• Tribun Bali — Indonesian regional news outlet
• baliscoop.com