What Bali’s 70 Percent Organic Waste Figure Means

Denpasar — Bali’s waste problem cannot be managed by relying only on final disposal sites, according to a Bali Post report published Sept. 25, 2026. The report says the island produces around 3,800 tonnes of waste per day and that about 70 percent is organic.

The figures were cited by Dwi Arbani, who said the estimate still requires stronger weighing data because not all regencies and municipalities have waste weighbridges. The report links the high share of organic material to increased leachate production at final disposal sites.

Why Bali’s waste figures matter to foreign residents and visitors

For foreigners living in or visiting Bali, the figures explain why waste separation is treated as a management issue at its source rather than only as a landfill problem. Organic waste includes material that can be processed separately, while mixed waste increases the amount sent to disposal facilities and contributes to leachate.

The Bali Post report says reducing waste at the source and separating it where it originates are central to the island’s response. In practical terms, the approach places importance on how waste is handled by households, businesses and other generators before collection, rather than assuming that final disposal sites can absorb all waste produced on the island.

The report does not present the 3,800-tonne estimate as fully verified. It says more accurate weighing is needed because the necessary facilities are not yet available across all local governments. The 70 percent figure is therefore an estimate cited in the report, not a measurement presented as complete islandwide weighing data.

The report also says Bali’s waste problem has characteristics that differ from those of other regions. Its emphasis is on processing waste from its source and limiting dependence on final disposal sites.

Sources

• Bali Post — Indonesian news outlet
• detik.com
• bali.tribunnews.com
• abc.net.au
• channelnewsasia.com